Ella Leila Person
July 8, 1924 — November 20, 2011
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Ella Person, 87, rural Sioux Falls, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning November 20, 2011 at Sanford USD Medical Center following a stroke on Friday.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at Benton Lutheran Church, rural Crooks. Burial will be in the Benton Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-8:00 PM Tuesday at the church.
Ella Leila Johnson was born July 8, 1924 to Adolph and Ida (Jensen) Johnson of rural Crooks. She attended Crooks Grade School, Crooks High School and graduated from Lyons High School in 1941.
Ella married Larkin Benjamin Person of Crooks on October 18, 1945. Having met in confirmation class, Ella and Larkin were lifelong members of Benton Lutheran Church. Ella and Larkin were a team working together on their farm and operating a family wedding photography business for over 60 years. Ella shared Larkin’s interest in photography, as some of their first dates were going to Camera Clubs. As a professional photographer, Ella enjoyed getting the best photos possible for her customers, who she considered friends.
Ella enjoyed working outdoors. Growing up, she helped her father pick corn by hand and milk cows. As a young farm wife, she shared the chicken chores with her mother in law, Amy. When Larkin and Ella moved to their own farm, they purchased a few sheep to keep the lawn trimmed. This began a lifelong love affair with the white woolies. She enjoyed the many people who came to their farm to buy lambs.
Ella enjoyed her neighbors, the Benton Lutheran Couples Club, extension club and Wayne Township Volunteer Fireman Auxiliary.
She is survived by her husband, Larkin, rural Sioux Falls; a son, Larry Duane Person, Ellis; two younger brothers, Glenn Johnson and Clifford (Darlene) Johnson, Sioux Falls; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her father and mother in law, Harry and Amy Person; two sisters, Lois (Ernest) Satter and Evelyn (Harold) Person and an older brother Alton Johnson.
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