Ellen Margaret Rychman was born Nov. 7, 1931, in St. James to Peder and Vernice Torkildson.  She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics. In 1954 she married Jim Rychman and they had four children.  

She lived in Albert Lea for 55 years and enjoyed playing bridge, reading, bird watching, gardening, picking blackberries, sewing and their Gull Lake, Wisconsin, cabin.

Ellen Rychman passed away Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, at her home in Albert Lea. She was 85.

She was preceded in death by her parents Peder and Vernice Torkildson; an infant son, Steven; and a brother, Albert Torkildson.

Ellen is survived by husband, Jim Rychman; children Cindy (Charlie) Sawyer of  Minneapolis, Lynn (Tim) Smith of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and Dave (Tammy) Rychman of St. Francis; grandchildren Stephen Sawyer of Minneapolis and Emily (Brian) Vandersommen of Phoenix; and great-grandchildren William, Wesley and Lynnea. She is also survived by sisters Lillian Berglund of Minneapolis, Anne Dubois of Apache Junction, Arizona, Evelyn Torkildson of Kansas City, Kansas, and John (Jean) Torkildson of Boone, Iowa.

A celebration of life gathering will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 14 at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea, with a luncheon provided at 3 p.m.