The Funeral Service for Rev. Ellis Ryherd, age 90 of Elgin, will be held at 11:00am MT, Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at Hope Congregational Church in Elgin.  Rev. Kevin Ryherd and Rev. Michael Ryherd will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery at Lemmon, SD.

Visitation Monday from 1:00 to 6:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin and on Wednesday one hour prior to services at the church in Elgin.

ELLIS SADDLER RYHERD was born on September 12, 1928 to Douglas and Rosa Lee (Lewis) Ryherd at Abilene, Texas. In 1933 he moved to Donna, Texas where he attended elementary school and Donna High School. Following graduation he attended Life Bible College in Los Angeles, CA. While attending college, Ellis worked for Security Bank and a grocery store. Ellis graduated in June of 1950 and on October 1, 1950 was united in marriage to Helen Marie Shawchuck. The Ryherds returned to Texas where Ellis pioneered and pastored a church. He then pastored in Haskell, Texas; Aurora, Illinois; Rockford, Illinois; where he pioneered a new church as well as working for Kroger's grocery store. He also pastored churches in Newton, Iowa; North Platte, Nebraska and Belle Fourche, South Dakota. He went back to Iowa to Blakesburg and then on to Pomeroy, Iowa.

It was while pasturing in Rockford, Illinois in 1973 that Ellis and Helen adopted two little boys, Kevin and Michael. They added much joy and excitement to an otherwise quiet household.

Following his pastorate in Pomeroy, Iowa, Ellis retired and moved back to Elgin (Helen's home). However, after just a few months, the Hope Conservative Congregational Church, who was without a pastor, asked him to fill the pulpit. His retirement was short-lived as Ellis stayed in this position for 10 years. On February 28, 2010, Ellis once again tendered his resignation effective April 2010. All in all, he served 60 years in the ministry.

On March of 2002, his wife, Helen passed away due to cancer.

In June of 2005, Ellis married JoAnn Schmidt who had lost her spouse to cancer in 2001.

At home you could find Ellis spending time reading his Bible, watching westerns or Fox News. He also enjoyed singing and he would break out in song and asked Jo if she knew that song and if so, what were the words.

Ellis loved to travel and his most interesting trip was the one to the Holy Land in 2007 with Jo and his son, Michael. He also loved family and was the one who visited them year after year. He also made phone calls to many old time friends just to visit and check up on them.Ellis passed from this life on Sunday, February 3, 2019 at the Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin, ND.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnn, his sons, Rev. Kevin Ryherd, Scotland, SD and Rev. Michael (Trish) Ryherd, Corinth, TX. Two step-sons, Jon (Camie) Schmidt, Brentwood, CA, and Keith (Reda) Schmidt, New Caney, Texas, one step-daughter, Pam (Joe) Rodrigues, Madera, CA, one sister, Nadine Morgan, Austin, TX, three grandsons, Zakk, Tyus, and Isaac Ryherd, three granddaughters, Ashley, Payton, and Hailey Ryherd, 4 step grandsons, Michael Schmidt, Shawn Rodrigues, Christian and Eric (Liana) Schmidt along with many nieces and nephews and great niece and nephews.

Preceding Ellis in death are his wife, Helen, three brothers, Lynn, William and Boyd and two sisters, Betty Crofton and Mae Marie Hoff.

A memorial has been established.