Leonard Ellefson

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Leonard Ellefson, of Garretson, passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2014, at the Palisade Healthcare Community in Garretson. Services will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Zion Lutheran Church, Garretson, SD. Visitation is at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson Friday, March 21, 2014 with family present 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Blue Dragon Foundation, Garretson, SD, or the Zion Lutheran Church.

Leonard Robert Ellefson, son of Lewis and Alice (Schurman) Ellefson, was born July 12, 1921 in Garretson, South Dakota. He was baptized at Norway Lutheran Church and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church Garretson. Leonard attended county school in rural Garretson until his family moved into Garretson. He attended Garretson High School graduating in 1940. While in high school, he worked for Nelson’s Dairy milking cows and delivering milk before school. After graduation, Leonard worked for area farmers and also was custodian at the DeVall Hospital in Garretson. He was united in marriage to Betty Pederson, January 7, 1942 at Palisades Lutheran Church in Rock County, MN. After marriage, Leonard and Betty worked in Moody County for farmers before Leonard was offered a job with John Morrell and Company in Sioux Falls, SD. Leonard was inducted into the U.S. Army on January 14, 1943. Leonard served his country in the South Pacific and was honorably discharged on October 18, 1945. After returning home from the military service, Leonard furthered his education in the tool and die maker trade. As a machinist, Leonard was employed by Sioux Falls Machine works. While working in Sioux Falls and living on an acreage at 10 ^th and Sycamore, Leonard started his farming career. In February 1952, Leonard and Betty began farming full-time. They rented a farm west of Larchwood, IA. In 1962 after growing the dairy operation, they bought a farm northwest of Garretson, SD. In 1971, Leonard decided to supplement the farm income and family health insurance by going back to work at John Morrell and Company. Leonard retired from John Morrell’s in September 1983. He continued to farm until 1986 when he and Betty moved to Garretson. Retirement was not for Leonard as he then worked at various occupations including over the road trucking, local trucking for Brandon Ready Mix, attendent at the Minnesota Rest Stop and then custodial work at Zion Lutheran Church until 2000. Leonard was a volunteer for RSVP Project Car providing rides for elderly people unable to drive to their appointments. At the age of 89, Leonard decided it was maybe time to stop doing that as well.

Leonard served in various capacities in the community including Zion Lutheran Church Garretson; Highland Township Board; Lifetime Member American Legion Henry G. Fix Post 23 Garretson; Lifetime Member of VFW post 628; member of Forty and Eight; Garretson Senior Citizens Center.

Leonard loved to play sports, but then discovered a passion for coaching and was involved in baseball for many years. He coached baseball in Iowa and then in Garretson. After coaching, he became a South Dakota VFW Regional Commissioner serving in this capacity for many years.

In later years, he enjoyed playing cards with his friends at Spirit Canyon Apartments and the Garretson Senior Citizens Center. Leonard was thrilled to take his first airplane ride as part of Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in April 2010.

Grateful for sharing his life are his eight children: son Robert (Shirley) Ellefson, Ankeny, IA and grandson Troy (Julia) Ellefson and great-grandsons Trey, Alex, Logan, Austin and Taylor; granddaughter Tammy Courter and great-granddaughters Angela, Katie, Ashley; daughter Judy Ellis, Garretson, SD and grandsons Lee Ellis and Rollie (Cherie) Ellis and great-granddaughter Kodie; granddaughter Sharon (Jon Erickson) and great-grandchildren Amber, Bradley (Kristin) and great-great-grandson son Wyatt; great-grandson James and great-granddaughter Emily; daughter Janie (Ron) Hendrix, Garretson, SD and grandson Jason (Jill Ellefson) and great-grandchildren Lane, Blair, and Drew; granddaughters Deb Hendrix and Kim Banghart and great grandchildren Kelly (Brook) Banghartwith his children Holden and Dade, Kristina (Chad) Callies and her son Wyatt, Ashley (Josh) Brown and her daughter Evelyn; son Richard (Rosalie) Ellefson, LeMars, IA and grandchildren Emily, Matthew Ellefson; son Raymond (Tami) Ellefson and granddaughter Monique Ellefson; son Royal (Darcy) Ellefson, Garretson, SD and granddaughters Mandy and Morgan Ellefson; son Ryan (Donna) Ellefson, Marshall, MN and grandchildren Jeremy Ellefson and Kellie (Brandon) Alberts; son Ronald Ellefson, Garretson, SD and granddaughters Shannan, Shelby, and Kara Ellefson; brother Perry (Helen) Ellefson Mission, Texas; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife Betty of 58 years; brothers: Elmer, Lloyd, Theodore, Rodney; sisters: Margaret Tarpley, Irene Kuss, & Shirley Burkey; grandsons Robert Ellis & Keven Hendrix; great-grandson Reese Ellefson; and son-in-law Daryl Ellis.