Funeral Services for Ethel Lillehaug, age 81 of Lemmon, will be held at 11:00am Monday, August 15, 2011 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon with Pastor Charlotte Kvale, officiating. Burial will be at 2:00pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.


Special music will be provided by Marilyn Willey, organist. Christie Pederson will sing "God Bless the USA" and "How Great Thou Art". Donell Pederson will sing "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" and "My Country 'Tis of Thee".


Serving as Honorary Bearers are Cassie Page, Landon Pederson, Layton Pederson, John Wells, Rudy Sackmann, Jerry Heier, Arlendo Lillehaug, and Kenny Lillehaug.


Serving as Active Casketbearers are Clay Pederson, Christina Pederson, Kevin Lillehaug, Amanda Petersen, Alex Petersen, and CeCe Page.


Ethel Lorraine Ellingson was born to Henry and Christina Ellingson on Oct. 14, 1929, at home in Perkins County. She attended Elementary School in the White Butte area and graduated from Lemmon High School in 1946. She worked for Dick N' Ginny's Café where she met Rollo John Lillehaug. They were united in marriage on Sept 6, 1947, in Lemmon SD at Calvary Lutheran Church. They made their home in North Lemmon. In 2000 Ethel moved down into Lemmon and in 2005 she moved into the Mott Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home.


In the 1960's Rollo & Ethel opened the Lemmon Gas Co. For a few years they also owned the Paradise Fashions in Lemmon, which was a fabric and dress shop. She had always dreamed of owning a dress shop so this was that dream. She was also involved with the American Legion Auxiliary, the VFW, the Chamber, the All Class Reunions and was treasurer of the Calvary Lutheran Church,.


In the American Legion Auxiliary, Ethel held many local offices including President-twice, 1st & 2nd Vice President & many others. She also held District President twice and served as a State Chairman. In her many years in the Auxiliary, Ethel earned several awards and decorated many floats for various parades including parades during State Conventions. One of her proudest moments was when she received an Indian Star quilt as District President. Ethel spent many years as Banquet Chairman for Brattvet-Green Unit #66 American Legion Auxiliary.


Just as important as those activities, she enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She especially loved rocking & holding the babies. She loved dancing polkas and waltzes with the love of her life, Rollo, whether at barn dances, the "Club" in Lemmon or the Legion.


Ethel passed away on Saturday, August 6, 2011 at the Mott Good Samaritan Nursing Center.


Surviving family members include 2 daughters and sons-in-law, Colleen and Art Pederson, Lemmon, SD and Joleen and Mike Petersen, Eden Prairie, MN; 1 son and daughter-in-law, Duane Lillehaug and Kathy Spanjer, Fargo, ND; 5 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; 2 brothers-in-law, Kenneth Lillehaug and his wife Vangie, Lemmon, SD, and Arlendo Lillehaug, Spearfish, SD.


She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Rollo on November 5, 1995, her sister, Gladys (John) Read, her brothers, Walter, Ira, Roy, Alvin, Kenny (Cubby), and Harold (Web) Ellingson.


A memorial has been established.


Visitation will be on Sunday from 1:00 to 7:00 pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.