Ellen Bein left us to join our Father on May 16th, 2009 . Ellen was the daughter of Cornelius and Mildred Lenard of Chicago Illinois . She was born on July 27th, 1934 and given the name Cornelia after her father. However, early in her life she took it upon herself to adopt the name of Ellen in place of her given name as she did not like her peers calling her "Corny". Ellen began her education in Elmhurst , Illinois but when her family moved to Chicago she completed her secondary education at Taft High School , graduating with the Class of 1952.

Ellen matriculated to Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington , Illinois and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1956, as an art major. While at Illinois Wesleyan she became a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and was active in the University's Theater Arts club.

After graduation she married Todd Martin and while he was in the Army followed him to Colorado , Japan and, finally, France . In France , she and Todd separated, and Ellen worked as a clerk in the office of the Air Attaché of the Embassy of India. She took a room near the Eiffel Tower , became fluent in the French language, and was accepted by the people of Paris as one of their own. In 1961 she returned to the United States as a passenger on the last voyage of The Ile de France. Upon her return she gained employment with the Niles , Illinois school district as an art teacher. One of the highlights of her teaching experience was when her young students won first place in an international art contest and had their work displayed in the Warsaw , Poland Art Museum . In 1963 Ellen went to San Diego to meet a former classmate and friend from Illinois Wesleyan by the name of Dick Bein, and on Augusts 30th of 1963 they married. Ellen and Dick first lived in the suburbs of San Diego , but, ultimately, migrated to the rural area known as " East County ". It was there that she and Dick started what might be called a small feed lot. Each year they would buy six to eight calves, feed them out and then sell them. It kept Ellen busy and, contrary to the advice of all our rancher friends, she did, indeed, give each calf a name. It was during this time that Ellen became an active member of the San Diego County Cowbelles. She served a number of years as treasurer and helped guide the chapter to a solid financial condition. In 1987 she was given the "Ferdie Award" for having herded a number of our neighbor's cows off a county road. She was named Cowbelle of the year in 1988. Ellen and Dick decided to give up their cattle "business" and went into horses. And it was the horses (and dogs and cats) that they brought with them to Smith Valley after Dick retired. Ellen and Dick always believed that He lead them to Smith Valley as they found it to be the home they had been seeking. Ellen became active with the Smith Valley Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi as well as with the Smith Valley United Methodist Church . After making their home in Smith Valley , however, Ellen's health took a couple of turns for the worse. But she was always surrounded by her friends and to the last kept her sense of humor and concern for others she believed were less fortunate. Ellen is survived by her husband of 46 years, two first cousins, Karen Frank of San Diego , CA and John Skadberg of Burlington , VT , and a sister-in-law, Lois Deters, of Morton Grove , IL .

A memorial service will be held in the Chapel of the Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home 25 Hwy 208 Yerington on Saturday May 30 at 11:00 AM . There will be a reception following the service at the Fellowship Room of the Smith Valley Methodist Church . In lieu of flowers the family would prefer a contribution in Ellen's name to the Alzheimer's Association 225 N. Michigan Avenue; Fl-17 Chicago, IL 60601
or at www.alz.org

Family and Friends may sign the online guest at www.FRFH.net

Arrangements are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, Yerington 463-2911.