Ilene Joane Taylor

Mesa, Ariz.

Formerly of Minot and Plaza, ND went to heaven on Feb. 1, 2025 in a Mesa, AZ nursing home with her daughter & husband at her side. She was born on Sept. 20, 1944 to John & Florence (Locken) Rowe in Plaza, ND. She was 2nd of the 6 Rowe kids and the only one born on the family farm. She attended school in Plaza, graduating in 1962.

While growing up she enjoyed babysitting, being active in the Lutheran Church, helping at home & on the farm, charging candy at the local stores, dancing to American Bandstand with her siblings, always eating her dessert first, and beating up boys that picked on her younger sisters!

After graduating high school, she moved to Minot and various other cities throughout North Dakota. Eventually to Seattle where her daughter Rochelle was born in 1968. With her daughter in tow, she moved back to Minot. She worked at the Burlington School district, Cable TV of Minot, The Elks Supper Club, The Ranger Lounge, and various other restaurants.

Eventually she met Mr. Edward M. Taylor. They married in July. 14, 1979 at Zion Lutheran Church in Minot. Shortly after marriage, Ilene and her family took care of her parents until their passing.

Then she briefly owned a sandwich & snack shop in Oak Park Shopping Center. In June of 1986, they moved to Seattle, WA in search of a better lifestyle. Ilene eventually was hired at Boeing. She had various positions throughout her career there. She retired as a Medical Secretary for the Flight Tower Medical Clinic.

She always enjoyed family holidays, parties, good food- especially when dining out, and her TV shows. RVing with her husband however became her passion. They started off small, traded up throughout the years, eventually leading them to Mesa, AZ for the “retirement good life” or so they say. However, the good life was a little too hot in the summer. They quickly became reverse snow-birders and would travel throughout the summer in their RV. She truly loved RVing with her husband.

In 2019, Ilene had her hip replaced. Sadly it didn’t go as expected. After the immediate emergency replacement surgery, a 6 week stay in a rehab facility, she never quite fully regained her walking skills, while starting to lose her cognitive skills, and we couldn’t figure out why. Eventually we found out why, as Ilene was diagnosed with a rare disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy which is not curable. Her husband Ed took care of her at home until October of 2024 as she could no longer speak or do anything for herself. She actually passed away from complications of the flu, not necessarily the disease itself. Without great detail, her disease has a rapid decline on the body and causes extreme deterioration of one’s motor skills.

She will be forever missed. Our family was blessed for the time that we did have with her. There are plans for a graveside service & Headstone dedication on July 20th in Plaza with reception to follow in Minot. Details to be announced.

Ilene is preceded in death by her parents John & Florence Rowe, in-laws Ed & Elmira Taylor, niece Kimberly (Hoffman) Unland, her nephews Christopher & Michael Taylor, and various relatives.

She is survived by her husband Edward of Mesa AZ, her daughter Rochelle Rowe of Federal Way, WA and siblings: Mrs. Jean (Louis) Braun of Dickinson, ND/ Mesa, AZ, Mrs. Carol Hoffman of Seattle WA/Surprise AZ, Mrs. Joan (Matthew) Baun of Tampa FL, Mr. Dennis (MaryAnn) Rowe of Minot ND, and Ms. Ione Rowe of Seattle WA, Brother-In-Law Mr. Perry Taylor of Minot ND, and Sister-In-Law Ms. Kathryn Taylor Lofthus of Blue Springs, MO. The Rowe & Taylor families sincerely thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and condolences during this time.

Published by The Minot Daily News, March 18, 2025.