Ella Rae (Dryden) Hasselstrom

On August 21, 2023, Ella Rae Hasselstrom, at the age of 90, passed from this life and into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She was born May 25, 1933, at the home of her grandmother in Rupert, Idaho.

In 1954, Ella met Elmo “Bogie” Gene Hasselstrom, in Burley, Idaho, and the two of them were married on April 10, 1955. Soon after, the Hasselstrom family began, and for the next fourteen years, they were both blessed and stunned with four daughters and two sons.

In 1962, Ella and Bogie moved to the Palisades/Swan Valley, Idaho, area where they both spent the remaining years of their lives. Ella loved Swan Valley and always called it her “forever home.”

Ella loved working with young children and spent many years working at the Swan Valley Elementary School as a volunteer. She also spent time working in the school library. During her time at the library, she assisted with the Idaho Falls Public Library project to create a satellite library in the elementary school. This allowed books to be made available to the Swan Valley area public, as well as the school children. In addition to helping at the local school, she spent many years volunteering her time working with, and at times, overseeing the children’s ministry at the Chapel in The Valley church.This always brought her great joy.

In her spare time, she loved to knit, crotchet, sew, and read.

Ella is survived by her daughters, Carol Hasselstrom, Kathryn (Warren) Nisson, Debbie Masek, and Eddie Ray; sons, David Hasselstrom and Steven (Trisha) Hasselstrom; grandchildren, Jennifer (Jimmy) Brian, Kristin (Brent) Casey, Brandon Masek, Travis Masek, Cody Masek, Tyler Masek, Kyle (Sabrina) Hasselstrom, DaNae Hasselstrom, Jessica Hasselstrom, Steven J. Hasselstrom; great-grandchildren, Justis (Mae), Alease, Amber, Hollis, Cloe, Dakota, Paige, Bristol, Kennedy, Ksenia, Lilith, Oliver; great-great-grandchildren, Lily, Aiyanna, Via, C.J.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmo “Bogie” Hasselstrom; her mother, Theoda Allen; brother, Leroy Dryden; sister, Rosie Vendsen; and brothers, Don Allen and Benjamin Allen.

We would like to give our sincere thanks to the Eden Hospice team who helped with the care of our mother in her final days. All their kindness and help is greatly appreciated.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 2, 2023, at the Chapel in the Valley in Swan Valley, Idaho. Luncheon to follow.

There will be a private family burial at a later date.