Obituary: Elroy Ellingson

Elroy Ellingson

Elroy M. Ellingson, age 89, Glenfield, N.D., died on Wed., Jan. 26, 2022, at CHI St. Alexius Hospital, Carrington, N.D.

His funeral service was held Wed., Feb. 2 at 10:30 a.m., at Prairie Faith Church, Glenfield, N.D., with Rev. Russ Christiansen officiating. Family music was by Emily Spickler pianist, "Amazing Grace" and "This is My Father's World." Elroy's family music was "How Great Thou Art" and "Will the Circle be Unbroken." His burial was at the Grace City Cemetery.

Elroy's visitation was Tuesday, Feb. 1 from 1:00-7:00 p.m., with family present from 5:00-7:00 p.m., followed by a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., all at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington.

Pallbearers were Cole Ellingson, Justin Spickler, Cayler Ellingson, Nathan Spickler, Chase Ellingson, Dawson Sedivec, Kyra Uhlenkamp, Shelby Sedivec and Gerri Ann Munkeby.

Military honors were conducted by the North Dakota Funeral Honors Team.

Elroy Melvin Ellingson was born on August 13, 1932, in Carrington, N.D., to Fanuel and Marie (Stangeland) Ellingson. He was raised on a farm south of Grace City along the James River, the youngest of five children. He attended elementary school in Haven Township and high school at Juanita, N.D., and at Glenfield, N.D.

On March 24, 1956, he married Marlys Sandvol. She died in November of 2003. On July 1, 2004, he married JoAnn Spickler.

Elroy was inducted into the United States Army on August 4, 1954, at Fort Leonardwood, Mo., and served in the Okinawa Islands during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged as a PFC on October 19, 1955, due to a family emergency.

Some of Elroy's community activities included serving on both the Grace City Lutheran Church board and the Grace City School board. He was a Haven Township supervisor for many years and also served as chairman for several years. He also belonged to the Buffalo City R/C Squadron in Jamestown and hosted an annual airplane fun-fly at his farm each summer.

Elroy was a dairy farmer for many years, then a cattleman, and finally a sheep producer, raising Polypay sheep for nearly 50 years. He was a member of the N.D. Lamb & Wool Association and the Dakota Sheep Growers.

In his spare time, he enjoyed building and flying radio-controlled airplanes, wood carving, and taxidermy. He had over 50 mounts displayed in his house including a coyote, a bobcat, and an elk, along with many birds, deer, and fish. He also enjoyed gardening, traveling, reading, listening to country music, playing guitar, hunting, fishing, and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Elroy is survived by his wife, JoAnn; two children, Craig (Alice) Ellingson, Glenfield, N.D., and Joan (Kevin) Sedivec, Cummings, N.D. Also surviving is his sister, Lillian Pedersen, Carrington, N.D .; five grandchildren: Cole (Sheri) Ellingson, Grace City, N.D., Gerri Ann Munkeby, Hatton, N.D., Kyra (Tyler) Uhlenkamp, Fargo, N.D., Shelby and Dawson Sedivec, Cummings, N.D .; and six great-grandchildren: Chase and Cayler Ellingson, Taryn, Trayson, and Tessa Munkeby, and Jensen Uhlenkamp.

Elroy was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Clifford and Franklin, sister Marvel Lindstrom, first wife Marlys, and daughter, Malina Larson.

On-line condolences may be sent at www.EvansFuneralHomeND.com