Ellen Jo Haneline, age 62, of Big Rapids, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 12, 2010, at home. Ellen was born February 25, 1948 in West Bend, WI, the eldest daughter of Richard and Ethel (Wilke) Bilstein. She graduated from Oakes (ND) High School in 1966 and earned a B.A. from Viterbo University, an M.Ed. from South Dakota State University, and a Ph.D. from Capella University. After working in hospital management in Vermont and South Dakota for ten years, she took an academic position at Dakota State University in Madison, SD, where she met and, on September 2, 1983, married Douglas Haneline, an English professor. In 1984 Ellen and Douglas made their home in Big Rapids, MI, where she became a program director and later a department head in the College of Allied Health Sciences at Ferris State University. At the time of her death she had been Dean of the College for 5 years. Ellen was an avid gardener and enjoyed gourmet cooking, sewing, and needle arts. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, where she was the first woman ever to serve as Council President, and sat on the Board of the Mecosta County Medical Center Foundation. She was generous in the service of causes she loved. She is survived by her husband Douglas and their daughters Joellen and Elizabeth; a brother, Dean (Laura) Bilstein of Smithville, MO; three sisters, Janet (Al) Lathrop of St. Paul, MN, Mary (Perry) Roberson of Riverton, WY, and Bonnie Bilstein of Decorah, IA; ten nieces and nephews and many close friends. Ellen was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services for Ellen will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, with Pastor Clay Bates officiating. The family will greet friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Memorial donations in Ellen's name can be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or to an FSU scholarship fund to be set up in her memory.