Clarissa Ballek

Clarissa Ballek, age 39, from Bagley, MN passed away on Wednesday, January 20th at First Care Hospital in Fosston, MN as the result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, February 6th at 11:00 AM at Bethel Assembly Church in Fosston with Pastor Jon Marx and Pastor Gary Johnson officiating. Family and friends may gather at the church one hour before the service, and interment of cremains will be at a later date at Island Lake Cemetery, rural Bemidji. Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston assisted the family with arrangements. Symapathy messages may be sent at www.carlinhoialmen.com. Clarissa "Cris" Helen Fowler was born on January 20, 1971, in Bay City, Michigan to Frank and Judy (Northup) Fowler of Puposky, MN.  She grew up in the Pleasant Valley area, attending Pleasant Valley School, Bemidji Middle School and Bemidji High School.  She worked toward her LPN in nursing at Bemidji and Thief River Vo Tech , graduating Magna Cum Laude from Thief River.  Then she graduated with honors from Detroit Lakes as Registered Nurse.   Cris married Jeffrey Ballek March 5, 1988. During their marriage they lived mostly in the Bagley area and had five children.  They were divorced in 2002 and Cris married Raymond Ballek of Bagley in April 2007.  She worked in the North Country Regional Senior Mental Health area of the old Bemidji Hospital until the time of her death. Cris loved her family, near and far, and enjoyed their annual family reunions in the Pleasant Valley area.  She also loved animals and always had dogs, cats, and horses.  But her first love was (and is) Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior and the pattern of her entire life revolved around her relationship with Him.On Wednesday, January 20, 2010 Cris passed away at First Care Hospital in Fosston, MN due to injuries sustained in a car accident. She was 39 years old. She is survived by her husband, Raymond Ballek; her grandmother, Helen Northup; her parents; her children; Emily (Paul) Munter, Aleza (Kevin) Johnson, Gretchen Ballek, Joseph Ballek and Corban Ballek; her brother, Frank (Bethany) Fowler; her sisters, Faith Binkley, Joanna (Jamie) Nesvold, and Beth (Ross) Trott; three grandchildren Terrance, Lincoln, and Aiden; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Vyron Northup; paternal grandparents, John "Joe" and Evelyn Fowler; and nephew, Jacob Binkley.Her family loved her dearly. She will be greatly missed.