Ellen Anita Varnado, 81, of Red Wing died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Red Wing. She was born on March 31, 1933, in Alma, Wis., to Lyle and Sarah (Scott) Stewart.

In 1943 her family moved to Fountain City, Wis., and then in 1944 her family moved to Red Wing. She attended schools in Alma, Fountain City and Red Wing. On Dec. 28, 1948, she married Roger Quade Sr. in Durand, Wis. They later divorced. She worked at Meadow Lands Produce, Red Wing Shoe Company and Red Wing Industries.

On Jan. 29, 1968 she married Cecil Ray Varnado in Webster, S.D. She then worked for Whistle Stop Café in Frontenac, Golden Corral and Treasure Island Resort and Casino. She also did daycare for many years. She was a member of the New River Assembly of God Church and the Red Men Club. She enjoyed gardening, garage sales, reading, writing poems, traveling, fishing, camping, playing the organ, crossword puzzles, art and canning. She also sponsored a child from Ethiopia. She will be remembered as a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. Ellen will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her husband, Cecil; four children, Sandy Hern of Rochester and Helen Stewart, Tim Varnado and Tom (Judy) Varnado, all of Red Wing; eight grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Shirley (David) Sommerfield of Frontenac; three brothers, Harry Stewart of Red Wing, Jerry (Karen) Stewart of Red Wing and Lyle (Nolie) Stewart Jr. of Frontenac; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Roger Quade and Bobby Varnado; three grandsons, Zachary Varnado, Nathan Stewart and Matthew Stewart; two sisters, Helen Stewart and Elaine Mida; and three brothers, Alfred, George and Charles Stewart.

The funeral service will be 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at New River Assembly of God Church in Red Wing, with the Rev. Tom Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Burnside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.