Ellen was killed in a preventable crash by an 43 year old man who admitted to reading FB messages while driving a pickup at 55 MPH. Our daughter was run down from behind while cycling, she was doing nothing wrong, merely enjoying a leisurely Sunday afternoon bike ride on a marked bicycle route. Iowa state patrol investigation proved he was driving distracted for a minimum of 9.5 seconds. He did not brake or swerve prior to impact. He told emergency responders he was looking at his phone, and did not even know “what” he had hit.

Ellen excelled at life academically, professionally, and musically. A Yale and Columbia chemical engineer graduate, her career eventually brought her to Charles City Iowa, where she was a rotary club member, was active in her church, and community, and was employed as an environmental engineer at Cambrex, Inc.

Ellen’s 28 years of life were a blessing, her memory is a treasure.

Ellen is loved beyond words and missed beyond measure. Written by JoAnn Bengtson, mother of Ellen4ever28