LeRoy Irving Ellefson, 72, Jasper, died Monday, March 7, 2016, at his home.
A funeral service was Friday, March 11, 2016, at the Jasper Evangelical Lutheran Church. Burial followed at the Jasper City Cemetery.
LeRoy Irving Ellefson was born to John and Valborg (Mellom) Ellefson on July 19, 1943, at the Pipestone County Hospital in Pipestone. Following his birth, his parents purchased a home in Jasper. He was baptized and confirmed at the Jasper Lutheran Church, and attended both Jasper Elementary and Jasper High School, where he graduated in 1961. In 1960 LeRoy enlisted as a Reservist with the United States Navy and completed boot camp between his junior and senior years. He attended the United States Navy Training Command in Memphis, Tennessee, where he obtained a degree in avionics. He was a part of Squadron VQ2 in Rota, Spain for two years as an airborne radar operator.
He was later stationed at the Sanford Naval Air base in Sanford, Florida, where he met Judith “Lanett” Thompson, and they were married Dec. 26, 1965, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Sanford. He was honorably discharged in April of 1966.
The couple moved to Minneapolis, where LeRoy began working for Honeywell, Inc. In 1971, after a company-wide layoff, they moved back to Jasper where LeRoy started work with his dad, John, at Mobil Oil until he began his career as a rural mail carrier. In 1976, with four growing boys, Leroy and his parents traded houses, and he moved back into his childhood home. He worked with the United States Postal Service for 31 years until his retirement in 2006.
LeRoy was a life-long member of the Jasper Lutheran Church where he was an active member, sitting on many different committees, singing in the church choir and teaching Sunday school. He spent 48 years as a member of the Jasper American Legion Oscar Iverson Post #133, holding offices up to commander, bi-county commander and also serving as chaplain. He was a 23-year EMT for the Jasper Ambulance and a charter member of the Jasper Lions Club. For over 30 years he was active in Scouts, from Cub Scouts to becoming a council member of the Scouts Organizaton.
LeRoy enjoyed morning coffee with the coffee crowd, making people laugh and telling a good Ole and Lena joke. He valued his fishing outings with his brother Knute. He also liked dabbling in woodworking and enjoyed bowling.
He is survived by his wife, Lanett Ellefson; sons Mark (Deb) Ellefson, Sugar Land, Texas, Donald Ellefson, Sugar Land, Texas, Russel (Joan) Ellefson, Luverne, and Daniel (Laurie) Ellefson, Tyler; grandchildren, Jennifer and Jessica Ellefson, Sugar Land, Texas, Cody, Wyatt and Rebecca, Manson, Iowa, David and Elijah Ellefson, Luverne, and Luke, Kyah and Dru Ellefson, Tyler; siblings Clara Ann Gerlitz, Byron, Vivian (Jim) Hanson, Princeton, John (Margaret) Ellefson, Pierre, South Dakota, and Delores (Lynn) Straatmeyer, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; sister-in-law Carol Ellefson, Hutchinson, and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Courtney Jo Ellefson; and two brothers, Lewis and Richard.
Arrangements were by Hartquist Funeral Home of Pipestone, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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