Janie Marie Ellefson-Hendrix

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Janie Marie Ellefson was born on December 2, 1953 to Leonard and Betty (Pederson) Ellefson in Valley Springs, SD. She began her life on a farm near Larchwood, IA. The family moved to a farm near Sherman, SD in 1962. Growing up, Janie was involved in the Merry Mollies 4-H Club showing horses and dairy calves. She was an early entrepreneur washing others’ animals at the fair for $5 apiece. Janie graduated from Garretson High School in 1972 and graduated from Southeast Technical School with an Associate Degree in Business Management.

Janie began her working career after high school as a clerk and waitress at Anderson’s Truck Stop in Sioux Falls and then in a military recruiting office. Later, she worked at JC Penney’s in collection and auditing; Catherine’s as an Assistant Manager, First Bank & Trust, and then Citibank for 24 ½ years. While at Citibank, she worked in collections, fraud disputes, purchase disputes, and fraud litigations. She then worked at Wells Fargo as a student loan and bankruptcy collector for 5 years. Most recently, she worked for Sioux Empire Federal Credit Union as a Legal Recovery Specialist until September 2014 when she was forced to retire due to a reoccurrence of cancer.

She was blessed with the birth of her son Jason in 1974. She married Ronald Hendrix on July 2, 1987 and January 14, 2000 in Garretson. She and Ron live on the family acreage near Sherman, coming full circle, and have enjoyed being host to their families and caring for their animals. Janie especially loved being host to kids from the family and community. “I always wanted to have someone and somewhere for them to go.” She especially has fond memories of sleepovers with wall to wall girls watching movies.

Janie’s unselfish and caring heart has been drawn to helping others, both people and animals, throughout her life. Through her son Jason, she became involved in horse showing, barrel racing, and serving as a both a mentor and judge for 4-H and open show events. She became re-involved in 4-H, serving as a Horse Program Instructor for the Springdell 4-H Club. She spent many Wednesday nights in Luverne, “teaching the girls how to lose”. She, Jason, and Ron were also active volunteers in Handi-Riders.

In 1987, she became an EMT and was an active volunteer with the Garretson Ambulance. She served in various capacities locally and statewide. She was an EMT Coordinator Instructor and a member of the State Critical Incidence Stress Management Debriefing Team.

Janie Ellefson Hendrix’s Journey on this earth ended on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at her home near Sherman. Grateful for sharing her life are: her husband Ron, Sherman, SD; son Jason Ellefson and wife Jill along with grandchildren, Lane, Blair and Drew; step-daughters Deb Hendrix and Kim Banghart and grandchildren Kelly (Brook) Banghart with children Holden and Dade, Kristina (Chad) Callies and Wyatt, and Ashley (Josh) Brown with Evelyn and Raylen. Her siblings include Robert (Shirley) Ellefson of Ankey, IA, Judy Ellis of Garretson, Richard (Rosalie) Ellefson of LeMars, IA, Raymond (Tami) Ellefson of Sioux Falls, Royal (Darcy) Ellefson of Garretson, Ryan (Donna) Ellefson of Marshall, MN, and Ronald Ellefson – Sioux Falls. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Janie was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents Lewis and Alice (Schurman) Ellefson and Willie and Julia (Bly) Pederson, stepchildren Kevin Hendrix and infant twins, grandson Reese Ellefson, nephew Bobbie Ellis, and brother-in-law Daryl Ellis.

Funeral services will be held in Garretson, SD at Zion Lutheran Church on Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. with interment at Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, July 15, 2016, at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson with family being present 6-8:00 pm. The family requests memorials be designated to the Garretson Community Ambulance and the Garretson Community Scholarship Foundation.