DONALD ELLENSON
Donald Jerome Ellenson was born August 22, 1926, to Oscar and Anne (Regier) Ellenson at rural Cass County, North Dakota, and passed away Monday, December 20, 2021, at Villa Maria Nursing Home in Fargo, North Dakota.
His funeral was held on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at West Funeral Home in West Fargo and he will be buried at the Oak Wood Cemetery, Harwood, ND.
He attended country school and two years of high school. Donald enlisted in the U. S. Marines and left for the service in August 1944. His training took him to Parris Island, South Carolina, Camp Lejuene, North Carolina, and Camp Pendleton, California. From there he shipped out to Hawaii and on to Kyusho, Japan. He was honorably discharged August 1946.
Donald married Ruth Sullivan November 27, 1950. To this marriage, 5 children were born.
He went to work for Walter and Albin Olson near Arthur, ND, where he was employed for several years. From the mid 1950’s to the fall of 1957 he and the family lived at Harwood, ND, where he engaged in farming.
In November 1957, the family moved to Britton, SD, where he became the herdsman for Thorp Hereford Ranch. While there, he worked at all forms of cattle ranching. Donald’s main responsibilities were the fitting and exhibiting of Hereford cattle as well as fitting and preparing cattle for the annual sale. Cattle Donald fitted were exhibited and sold all over the upper Midwest, Western states, and Canada.
His life was all about work and the cattle. Over the years, he accumulated a small herd of his own hereford cattle that were also a success for him.
He enjoyed gun collecting and deer hunting every fall. In middle age, he developed a keen interest in photography. He was avid in his picture taking of his grandchildren and of cattle. It was a family joke that he didn’t take pictures, he took rolls of pictures, whatever his subjects were.
In the spring of 1992, Donald retired from ranch work. He and Ruth moved to Fargo after 35 years in South Dakota.
Donald is survived by his wife of 71 years; brothers David Ellenson and Roger (Suzon) Ellenson, both of Fargo; 5 children - Joan (Gary) Tisher, of Cheyenne, WY, James (Verna) Ellenson, of Redfield, SD, John Ellenson, Salcha, AK, Judy Ellenson, Fargo, and Gene (Melinda) Ellenson, of Huron, SD; grandchildren, Robert (Lisa) Tisher of Thornton, CO, Jeff (Deb) Tisher of Cheyenne, WY, Justin Ellenson of Aberdeen, SD, Melissa (Austin) Zastrow, of Redfield, SD, Jill (Tom) Tomsha, of Tulare, SD; nine great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, brother Harlan and his wife Verna, sister Delene and husband John Lyman, sister Delores and husband Richard McMahan, and sister-in-law Lillian Ellenson.
His arrangements are in the are of West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center, westfuneralhome.com