Ellen MacGregor

OBITUARY

On Monday, September 15, 2025, Ellen May MacGregor (Bakke), 86, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones. Ellen was born on May 18, 1939, in Forest City, Iowa to Milo and Inger (Estrem) Bakke. She dedicated her life to creating a warm, nurturing home for her husband of almost 60 years and their three children.

Ellen spent her childhood in Lake Mills, Iowa, growing up with her four sisters, Elizabeth, Alice, Martha, and Mary. She liked to shoot a bow and arrow, play catch with her dad, and play her oboe in solo and ensemble groups. She was also the high school band majorette. She graduated second in her high school class. After high school, Ellen went on to attend Iowa State University for two years. While there, she met the love of her life, Richard Allen (Dick) MacGregor, when he cut in to dance with her at her freshman mixer (he was a junior).

On November 27, 1960, Ellen and Dick were married. Soon after, the newlyweds moved to Karlsruhe, Germany, where Dick was stationed as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army for the next two years. Ellen worked hard to make a home for them in Germany during challenging times. She also worked hard at learning German, even exchanging language lessons with the housefrau of their apartment building. While in Europe, Ellen and Dick spent many adventurous weekends traveling throughout the continent in their VW Beetle.

In 1963, Ellen and Dick returned to the U.S. and grew their family. Ellen loved nothing more than spending time with their three children, Debra, Brian and Michael. She was actively involved as a volunteer in their schools, youth groups, and Scouting troops/dens/packs. She introduced her children and those of many others to fine art masters as a volunteer picture lady in their schools. She filled the family home with music. Ellen was always there for her children, whether she was helping them with homework or school projects, getting them to piano lessons or sports practice or Scout meetings or church activities, or cheering them on at their track meets and baseball games and concerts and recitals.

In addition to family time, Ellen’s life was filled with church activities, gardening and yardwork, quilting and sewing, and Scouting leadership. She could often be found puttering in the yard, or sewing clothes for her kids, or preparing lessons for her work with Scouts. She absolutely loved working with youth at church and devoted energies to developing the Kappa Chi, “Kid’s for Christ" high school program at Zumbro Lutheran Church. She was also instrumental in developing the religious emblems program at Zumbro and with other congregations in SE MN. Her big passion was the Scouting faith hike throughout Rochester to multiple places of worship. It was an opportunity to learn about different faiths along with a long hike through the community. In recognition of her time and commitment to Scouting, Ellen received the Silver Beaver Award and the Lutheran Lamb Award. In addition, Ellen spent time weekly at church with her circle and quilting and weaving group. The relationships that developed in those groups became enduring friendships even until her passing.

As a couple, Ellen and Dick shared many interests. They simply loved spending time together. They loved exploring the outdoors together. They loved camping and hiking, and took frequent vacations to explore national parks and Civil War battle sites. They also enjoyed collecting throughout their lives and took many local excursions to hunt for antiques like Red Wing crocks and Peoria pottery, depression glass, old books, and Boy Scout memorabilia. As long as they were physically able, they loved to travel to grandchildren’s graduations, school and church activities, and weddings.

Ellen will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her legacy of joy, kindness, creativity, and service will live on through the families of her three children, nine grandchildren, and four great-granddaughters. Ellen is survived by: children, Debra (Paul) Hagstrom of Clinton, NY, Brian (Heidi) MacGregor of Byron, MN, and Mike (Melissa) MacGregor of Urbandale, IA; grandchildren, Anna (Studie RedCorn) Hagstrom, Peter (Audrey) Hagstrom-Russo, Nathan (Caitlyn) Hagstrom, Kathryn (Jordan) Padgett, Thomas (Lindzy) MacGregor, Madeline (AJ) Tabatabai, Alex MacGregor, Aidan MacGregor, and Drew MacGregor; and great-granddaughters, Isla and Myra Padgett, Parker Tabatabai, and Lucy Hagstrom. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Dick, her parents, and her four sisters.

A celebration of life service for Ellen will be held at Zumbro Lutheran Church (624 3rd Ave SW, Rochester, MN 55902) on Monday, October 27, 2025, at 10:30 am. A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home (5421 Royal Place NW) from 3:00-5:00 pm as well as thirty minutes prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at 2:00 pm on Monday, October 27, 2025, at Preston Veterans Cemetery, 715 US-52, Preston, MN 55965.

The family gratefully acknowledges the compassionate care provided by the palliative care and oncology teams at Mayo Clinic during the last few weeks of Ellen’s life. They especially thank the wonderful staff and volunteers of Seasons Hospice House for their exceptional care and for the kindness and unwavering support and empathy shown to their mother and to their family. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Ellen’s memory to one of the following two organizations: Twin Cities PBS/TPT Donate to TPT, or the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Help Us Make a Difference at Mayo Clinic.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the MacGregor family.