Funeral Service for Erna Ellingson, 82, of Sisseton, SD will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. at the Grace Lutheran Church, Sisseton, SD with the Rev. William Schruba officiating. Organist will be Mona Greseth and soloists will be Paul and Diane Bartnick. Pallbearers will be Michael, Robert and Mathew Ellingson, Austin and Jordan Cecil, and Clint Lakness. Honorary Pallbearers will be "The Grace Lutheran Quilters". Interment will be Sisseton Cemetery, Sisseton, SD. There will be visitation on Monday, May 16, 2011 from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service at the Cahill Funeral Chapel with the family present from 5 to 7 PM. Erna was born on July 19, 1928 to Emil and Anna (Rusch) Bartnick on her parent's farm in Minnesota Township near Claire City, SD. She attended grade school at Minnesota Township #3, went two years to Claire City High School and graduated from New Effington High School in 1946. She then attended the School of Cosmetology in Watertown, SD and then worked at the Miller Beauty Shop in Sisseton, SD. Erna then attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD and taught rural schools for two years. Erna was married to Norman Ellingson on June 10, 1950 at the Zion Lutheran church at Claire City, SD. The couple farmed their married lives and lived on the Brodal farm for 35 years. They retired in 1985 and purchased a home in Sisseton, SD. Erna was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church, the Walla Lutheran Church, the New Effington American Legion Auxiliary, she was a member of the Grace Lutheran Quilters group, and her church serving circle. Erna liked quilting, gardening, needlework, and crossword puzzles. She passed away at her home on May 14, 2011.
Erna is survived by five children, Mark and Sandra Ellingson of Britton, SD, Sandra and Conant Nelson of Maple Grove, MN, Paul and Kathy Ellingson of New Effington, SD, Jane and Dean Cecil of Rapid City, SD and Michelle and Dennis Martel of Bloomington, IL; one sister Leila Jean Hughes of Aberdeen, SD and twelve grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters.
Erna was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one sister Ileane
Hillestad.