Gwen Tatum

Gwen L. Tatum, 86, of Ellendale, North Dakota, died January 6, 2025, at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, Aberdeen, South Dakota. She was born December 17, 1938 in Scobey, Montana, to Larry and Beth (Belden) Bowler. Gwen was raised and educated in Scobey, where she graduated from high school in 1956. She furthered her education at Montana State University (now University of Montana in Missoula). She was in the Journalism program for one year at the University. She then took a short business course at Billings Business College. Gwen met Bob at a “Bachelor and Bachelorette” square dancing event while she was in Billings, and they were married August 13, 1959. Bob and Gwen had five children - Tim, Becky, Toby, Jill, Todd.

Growing up, Gwen worked at her family newspaper, The Daniels County Leader, in Scobey, Montana. Her experience setting type by hand actually led to a job in a small town where she lived, because no one else there knew how to do it. Throughout her life, Gwen had many jobs. She worked for the U.S. Marshal’s Office of Montana in Billings and did medical transcription, bookkeeping, and editing. She was the morning shift manager for a McDonald’s restaurant in Encinitas, California. In Ellendale, she worked in the Registrar’s Office at Trinity Bible College, was the Activities Director at the Ellendale Nursing Home, and the Director of Tax Equalization for Dickey County. Most recently she worked at the Ellendale Public Library and wrote the Bookworm newspaper article highlighting and suggesting books.

Through the years, Gwen was active in the Republican Party, Gideons Auxiliary, Dakota Club, Christian Women’s Club, and volunteering at Kedish House. She loved to read the Bible and was always involved in Bible studies in church and the community.

Gwen was exceptionally creative in many ways. She sewed clothes for herself and her kids and window curtains for many of her homes. She sewed doll clothes for her granddaughters’ American Girl dolls. She loved doing crafts and always had an idea for something. One time she made a birdhouse with real bark and berries on the stump of a Christmas tree with the straggly boughs of the tree pulled together to frame the house. She played piano beautifully and used her talent to accompany small groups and choirs as well as to play for residents at the Ellendale Nursing Home. She played the piano and acted in a community play as well. Gwen loved playing card games and word games. She loved crossword puzzles, word jumbles, and Boggle. More recently she enjoyed Wordle and Connections. She usually beat everyone at her favorite word game - Perquackey. She liked to spend an afternoon puzzling with her daughter, Becky. She enjoyed reading and going to the movies. She enjoyed her grandchildren very much and delighted in taking them on little dates. Gwen loved spending quiet time with the Lord, praying, reading the Bible and Our Daily Bread. She believed in the importance and power of prayer. 

Gwen loved to laugh - at herself just as much as at anything else. Her smile was beautiful. Even in the last few years of her life when she was in physical pain, she loved to laugh. She always said laughter was the best medicine. She was directionally challenged and could not tell a joke if her life depended on it. Gwen rarely met a recipe she didn’t like. She once said a man at her son’s baseball game said she must really be involved in the game because she was writing down so many stats. Gwen smiled and said “Oh no, I’m copying down recipes.” She had family recipes, recipe books, recipes from friends, recipes from magazines, recipes from newspapers, and recipes from the internet - many of them were for sweets involving dates and nuts. She was a wonderful cook and could make something out of what seemed like nothing. Gwen canned jams and jellies along with vegetables.

Gwen loved to bake and was known for her Swedish Rye bread that her mom and grandmother made before her. Her husband, Coach Bob Tatum, made this bread well-known as “Little Red Hen” bread at Santa Fe Christian High School and Trinity Bible College by giving it to an athlete each week who was voted the hardest worker/most servant-like by their teammates. This bread comes up often in memories of Bob and Gwen. 

Gwen had a tender heart for young wives and mothers. She often took them under her wing and mentored them. She loved to talk with them and study the Bible with them. Gwen used her warmth and hospitality to encourage them and share the wisdom of her experience. She loved and valued these women and the relationships that resulted.

She loved well and was well-loved. Her Heavenly Father has welcomed her home.

Preceded in death by husband Bob (Dec. 22, 2024), her parents, and her brother, Printer (Kim).

Gwen is survived by her children: Tim (Jodi) of Yorkville, IL; Becky of Ellendale; Toby (Shelli) of Yorkville, IL; Jill of Yorkville, IL; and Todd of Dekalb, IL. 

Her grandchildren: Chelsea (Oliver) of Wheaton, IL; Treasure (Nick) of Lexington, IL; Josh of Venice Beach, CA; Alexa (Trevor) of Denver, CO; Madison of Chicago, IL; Kiley of Cortland, IL.

Her siblings: Jane (Jim) Dighans of Miles City, MT; Kelly (Joe) of Casper, WY; Judy Phillips of San Diego, CA; Burley (Roz) Bowler of Scobey, MT and cousin Jere Lee (Milton) Gunderson of Scobey, MT.

There will be a Celebration of Life service for Bob and Gwen at the Ellendale Nazarene Church on Saturday April 26, 2025 at 11:00 am with Pastor Kelly Riggan officiating. The Celebration service will be live streamed at hovenfuneralchapel.com on Bob’s obituary page. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale. Please check Gwen’s obituary page at hovenfuneralchapel.com for any service time updates.

A wonderful way to honor Gwen would be to make a donation to Gideons or Trinity Bible College.

(Obituary supplied by the family)