Howard Ellingson

Howard Ellingson, 87, passed away Sunday, September 23, 2012 at Dells Nursing and Rehab Center.

Funeral services will begin at 1:00 PM Wednesday September 26, 2012 at The Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids. Burial will be in the Dell Rapids Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 3:00 PM with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Tuesday at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids.

Howard was born April 21, 1925 in Peever, SD to parents Theodore and Clara (Sanders Pemrick) Ellingson. Theodore passed away from complications of pneumonia when Howard was nine.

Howard served during WW II in the Philippines. He was awarded a Purple Heart during this time. Upon his discharge in 1946, he went on to earn an accounting degree. Following graduation he began work as a bookkeeper for Cockran Chevrolet in Dell Rapids. They moved to Milbank where they owned their own accounting firm for several years. He later moved to Webster to be a co-owner of the Loyal Chevrolet dealership. Howard moved to Madison where he purchased Cherry Lanes bowling alley and later went to work for Domestic Seed as a salesman. He moved to Dell Rapids where he and Marcie owned Dells Bowl retiring in 1991. He then worked part time as a camper salesman for Spader’s Campers in Dell Rapids. He served as Treasurer for St. John Lutheran Church in Madison and was also Treasurer and President of the South Dakota Seed Association.

On December 17, 1949 he was united in marriage to Marcie Angeline Dieken. They were blessed with four sons.

Howard was a member of the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids, Dell Rapids American Legion, VFW of Madison, a longtime member of the Madison Elks Club and belonged to the American Men’s Bowling Congress for many years. In 2009 he was honored to be one of the Vets who went on the Honor Flight to Washington DC.

Howard loved square dancing, collecting Corvairs, fishing, bowling, golf, camping, and playing cards and shooting pool. Watching his sons and grandsons race gave him much pleasure too. The last twelve years, Grandpa Howard was an avid sports fan of all his grandchildren’s games. He was especially proud to see grandson Braeden play football and intercept a pass in the dome last year when the Quarriers won the State Championship game.

Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Marcie of sixty two years, Dell Rapids; sons, Ted and Ron (Terry), Madison and Mike (Julie), Dell Rapids; daughter-in-law, Shelley, Dell Rapids; eight grandchildren, Chris, Jeff, Ryan, Ashley, Braeden, Austin, Logan and Peyton; five great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Ava, Breeley, Jaxon, Kenna and Baby due in April, 2013 Jaton; sister, Eileen Burkhart; and his curly tailed friends, Punchy and Amy. Howard was preceded in death by his parents and son, Dan in March of 2009.