Ilene McLean, West Fargo, ND formerly of Wheatland, ND passed away peacefully in her home on October 28th, 2025. Ilene was born in Fargo, ND on June 14th, 1937, to Albert and Florence Friend of Gardner, ND. She graduated from Gardner High School in 1955. Ilene graduated from North Dakota Agricultural College (now NDSU) with a BS Degree in Home Economics Education and a Music minor in 1959.
Ilene taught Home Economics in Carrington, ND until moving to Wheatland when she married Kenneth McLean on June 25th, 1960. As they settled into farm life, Ilene taught at Wheatland High School for the next four years.
They were blessed with a daughter, Nancy, in December of 1962, and a son, Bruce, in May of 1968. In the fall of 1968, Ilene and Ken moved to their farm home of the next 51 years. After retiring they purchased a patio home in Fargo where they lived for three years. In the fall of 2022, they moved to Moorhead, MN to a senior living facility. Due to health concerns Ilene and Ken moved to New Perspective Senior Living in West Fargo in March of 2025.
Ilene was a true servant trying to make other people’s lives better. Through her years of teaching, she helped her students improve their life skills and she established relationships, that later in life, some of those students would still address her as “Teach”. She acted as a leader for Empire 4-H club for many years, served on the Red River Valley Fair Board to organize picnics for the various groups, and Big Iron Ladies to expand offerings to women who were attending.
If you know Ilene, you know that music was a large part of her life. She taught piano lessons to hundreds of students, was her church pianist/organist and choir director, she created the United Singers group in Casselton which performed Christmas and Easter Cantatas for decades, served as the Grand Organist for Eastern Star multiple times and loved to sit down and play duets with Nancy whenever they could and accompany Bruce when they did occasional special music.
Ilene was a member of Eastern Star for 60+ years! She started as a member of Orient Chapter #16 in Casselton which then merged with Mecca Chapter #5 in Fargo. Through the years Ilene has held many offices along with participating in numerous fund-raising activities that supported their many philanthropic causes. These include selling concessions at the Fargodome, brat sales at Hornbacher’s, lefsa making and the annual rummage sale. She always enjoyed the fellowship and comradery of the annual Grand Chapter. Ilene was a Grand Officer numerous times, in fact she held the Grand Organist role so many times that she earned the title of Grand Organist Emeritus!
When people think of Ilene some of the visions that come to mind are fresh baked cookies, pies (single crust and double crust were Ken’s favorites!), entertaining, cheese ball and crackers, “I’ll put on a pot of coffee”, Grandma Juice, Bison fever, and bragging about the grandkids whenever she could!
Ilene is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Kenneth; daughter, Nancy (Jerry) Ethen of Avon, MN; son, Bruce (Diana) McLean of Minot, ND; grandchildren, Jon (Sadie) Ethen, Davenport, ND, Lauren McLean, Minot, ND, Teresa Ethen, Fargo, ND, Brayden McLean, Fargo, ND and Erin McLean, Bozeman, MT. Sisters-in-law, Irene Friend, Eau Claire, WI and Beverly Friend, Shakopee, MN; nieces, Catherine Friend and Sandy Elbracht; brother-in-law, James (Karen) McLean, Fargo, ND; sisters-in-law, Audrey Roach, Wheatland, ND and Marilyn McLean, Fargo, ND.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, Albert and Florence Friend; brother, Richard Friend; brothers and sisters-in law, Leslie Roach, John (Janice) McLean, Ronald McLean, LeRoy (Barbara) Schonberger, Carl (DeLores) Turnquist and Gordon McLean.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center, ESTARL or a charitable organization of your choice in memory of Ilene.
Visitation: Friday, November 7, 2025, at West Funeral Home, West Fargo, ND. Visitation will be 6-7:30 PM with a prayer service at 7:30 PM.
Funeral: Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 11 AM, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Casselton, ND, with visitation one hour before the service.
Interment: Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 2 PM, Wheatland Cemetery, Wheatland, ND.
West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center
westfuneralhome.com
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