1942
Delvin
2013
Delvin Ellefson
August 21, 1942 — May 10, 2013
Funeral services for Delvin M. Ellefson of Starbuck, MN will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at Immunuel Lutheran Church near Starbuck. Delvin died unexpectedly last Friday, May 10, 2013 in Starbuck. He had been in failing respiratory health for the past few years.
Reverend Paul Johnson will be officiating. Dee Syverson will serve as the organist for the service. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck. Burial will be in North Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery near Pelican Rapids, MN.
Delvin Mentor Ellefson was born on August 21, 1942 to Gordon and Pearl (Shulstad) Ellefson in Barnesville, MN, where he grew up and attended school. He was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Barnesville, where he was a member for much of his early life. Delvin was a 1960 graduate of Barnesville High School, where he was active in both 4-H and FFA. As a member, he was an officer and a state competitor in FFA activities which laid the foundation for his lifetime love of farming. After high school he furthered his education at Interstate Business College and North Dakota State University in Fargo.
On June 22 of 1963, he was united in marriage to Ann Marie Prim. In six weeks, they were looking forward to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends. Delvin enjoyed working in various agricultural businesses including the Barnesville Farmers Elevator, Hubbard Milling Company and Production Credit Association. In 1975, Delvin and his family moved to rural Starbuck, where he pursued his life-long dream of owning and operating his own family farm. Delvin also enjoyed a career selling new and used vehicles in the area.
He was always active in business, farm, civic, community and church organizations as well as volunteer work. He was a charter member of the Barnesville Jaycees and was an active member of the Jaycee organizations in Fergus Falls and Morris. He served on local church boards and was an active member on the board of directors of the Minnewaska Nursing Home for several years.
Delvin's passions were hunting in northern Minnesota, fishing, visiting friends and spending time at Lake Lida. Most importantly, Delvin loved spending time with his family and watching his grandchildren grow up. He took particular pride in helping kids and grandkids get livestock projects ready and then watching them exhibit at the county fair each year. The Lake Lida retreat was a very special place as Ann and Delvin were at the center of six generations of Ellefsons and Prims that have enjoyed summers at a cabin on the lake. After retirement Delvin enjoyed fishing at the lake but not nearly as much as having the cabin full of friends and relatives every weekend. He was a talented gardener keeping the flower beds full of blooming plants throughout the summer.
In the winters he enjoyed woodworking projects in his shop. Each of his children was the recipient of a replica farm yard that he created from his memories of the farm where he and Ann raised their family. At Christmas time, he moved into the kitchen where over the years he made thousands of rosettes that were distributed to friends, neighbors and relatives during the holidays. He was also a somewhat willing volunteer in the set up and take down of the huge Christmas Village decorations at the Ellefson home each year although he enjoyed that a lot less than woodworking or rosette making where he was in charge.
There were no strangers in Delvin's life, there were only those people that he had not yet met with whom he could strike up a conversation and which always included a hearty laugh or two. He particularly enjoyed a trip to Nevada only a month ago where he was able to meet new people as well as fulfill two lifelong dreams, a visit to Hoover Dam and to the Carroll Shelby Racing Museum.
Delvin is survived by his wife, Ann of Starbuck; children: DeAnna (Steve) Baukol of Detroit Lakes, Delayne (Chris) Ellefson of Barnesville and Darla (Todd) Swedzinski of Montevideo. He leaves eight grandchildren: Amy (Rick Sr.) Zertuche, Sarah Baukol, Tyler Baukol, Andrea, Brad and Elizabeth Ellefson, Collin and Alyssa Swedzinski; two great-grandchildren, Ricky Jr. and Beau Zertuche; brothers: David (Marion) Ellefson of Bismarck, ND, Arnold (Sharon) Ellefson of Barnesville and Roger (Dianne) Ellefson of Barnesville; brothers-in-law: Glenn Johnson and Eugene and Karen Prim of Barnesville and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Pearl Ellefson; his sister, Gail Johnson and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Kermit and Margaret Prim.
Pallbearers for the service are: Todd Engebretson, Dennis Sleiter, Tyler Baukol, Bradley Ellefson, Ricky Zertuche, Ricky Zertuche, Jr. and Collin Swedzinski. Honorary pallbearers are Amy Zertuche, Sarah Baukol, Andrea Ellefson, Elizabeth Ellefson, Alyssa Swedzinski, Beau Zertuche and the Cyrus Elevator Breakfast Club
Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the arrangements.
Reverend Paul Johnson will be officiating. Dee Syverson will serve as the organist for the service. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck. Burial will be in North Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery near Pelican Rapids, MN.
Delvin Mentor Ellefson was born on August 21, 1942 to Gordon and Pearl (Shulstad) Ellefson in Barnesville, MN, where he grew up and attended school. He was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Barnesville, where he was a member for much of his early life. Delvin was a 1960 graduate of Barnesville High School, where he was active in both 4-H and FFA. As a member, he was an officer and a state competitor in FFA activities which laid the foundation for his lifetime love of farming. After high school he furthered his education at Interstate Business College and North Dakota State University in Fargo.
On June 22 of 1963, he was united in marriage to Ann Marie Prim. In six weeks, they were looking forward to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends. Delvin enjoyed working in various agricultural businesses including the Barnesville Farmers Elevator, Hubbard Milling Company and Production Credit Association. In 1975, Delvin and his family moved to rural Starbuck, where he pursued his life-long dream of owning and operating his own family farm. Delvin also enjoyed a career selling new and used vehicles in the area.
He was always active in business, farm, civic, community and church organizations as well as volunteer work. He was a charter member of the Barnesville Jaycees and was an active member of the Jaycee organizations in Fergus Falls and Morris. He served on local church boards and was an active member on the board of directors of the Minnewaska Nursing Home for several years.
Delvin's passions were hunting in northern Minnesota, fishing, visiting friends and spending time at Lake Lida. Most importantly, Delvin loved spending time with his family and watching his grandchildren grow up. He took particular pride in helping kids and grandkids get livestock projects ready and then watching them exhibit at the county fair each year. The Lake Lida retreat was a very special place as Ann and Delvin were at the center of six generations of Ellefsons and Prims that have enjoyed summers at a cabin on the lake. After retirement Delvin enjoyed fishing at the lake but not nearly as much as having the cabin full of friends and relatives every weekend. He was a talented gardener keeping the flower beds full of blooming plants throughout the summer.
In the winters he enjoyed woodworking projects in his shop. Each of his children was the recipient of a replica farm yard that he created from his memories of the farm where he and Ann raised their family. At Christmas time, he moved into the kitchen where over the years he made thousands of rosettes that were distributed to friends, neighbors and relatives during the holidays. He was also a somewhat willing volunteer in the set up and take down of the huge Christmas Village decorations at the Ellefson home each year although he enjoyed that a lot less than woodworking or rosette making where he was in charge.
There were no strangers in Delvin's life, there were only those people that he had not yet met with whom he could strike up a conversation and which always included a hearty laugh or two. He particularly enjoyed a trip to Nevada only a month ago where he was able to meet new people as well as fulfill two lifelong dreams, a visit to Hoover Dam and to the Carroll Shelby Racing Museum.
Delvin is survived by his wife, Ann of Starbuck; children: DeAnna (Steve) Baukol of Detroit Lakes, Delayne (Chris) Ellefson of Barnesville and Darla (Todd) Swedzinski of Montevideo. He leaves eight grandchildren: Amy (Rick Sr.) Zertuche, Sarah Baukol, Tyler Baukol, Andrea, Brad and Elizabeth Ellefson, Collin and Alyssa Swedzinski; two great-grandchildren, Ricky Jr. and Beau Zertuche; brothers: David (Marion) Ellefson of Bismarck, ND, Arnold (Sharon) Ellefson of Barnesville and Roger (Dianne) Ellefson of Barnesville; brothers-in-law: Glenn Johnson and Eugene and Karen Prim of Barnesville and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Pearl Ellefson; his sister, Gail Johnson and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Kermit and Margaret Prim.
Pallbearers for the service are: Todd Engebretson, Dennis Sleiter, Tyler Baukol, Bradley Ellefson, Ricky Zertuche, Ricky Zertuche, Jr. and Collin Swedzinski. Honorary pallbearers are Amy Zertuche, Sarah Baukol, Andrea Ellefson, Elizabeth Ellefson, Alyssa Swedzinski, Beau Zertuche and the Cyrus Elevator Breakfast Club
Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the arrangements.
Funeral Service
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