The Funeral Service for Susan "Susie" Bornong Ellison, age 55 of Lemmon, formerly of Isabel, will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon with Fr. Tony Grossenburg, officiating. Following a time of fellowship and luncheon, burial will be in the Selma Union Cemetery near the Ellison Ranch north of Thunder Hawk.


A gathering of family and friends will be held at 7:00pm on Friday evening at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home.


Serving as casketbearers are Nevada and Cody Ellison, Tyson Bradford, Jesse Higgins, Josh Millhouse, Jess Tomac, Mike Sharp, Colton Fisher, Jake Rau, Aron Espinoza, Jorin Eisenbraun, Zac Badder, Kenny Dirk, and Boe Gregson. All of Susie's friends are considered honorary bearers.


Susan (Susie) Marie (Borning) Ellison was born in Faith,SD on June 20, 1960 to Russell and Denaldo (Solberg) Bornong. Susie was the third of four daughters and lived in Isabel, South Dakota most of her first 18 years graduating from the Isabel High School in 1978. Susie was an acclaimed basketball and track star. She earned the nickname of "Wilt" due to her outstanding performance as a center while playing for the Isabel Wildcats.


Susie was a tomboy and until graduating from high school loved working on her grandparent's ranch (Esther and Bud Young). Even though she avoided all household chores, Susie enjoyed spending time with her mom learning how to knit and crochet. As a little girl, it became obvious that Susie was the son her father always wanted. She spent many hours stacking bailed hay on a commercial hay trailer and riding shotgun while he trucked around the country. Later Susie worked by her father's side in the gold mines of Custer and was his right hand man learning auto mechanics and auto painting.


Susie achieved a Certificate from the National College of Business in the field of Artificial Insemination for Cattle (A-I). She went on to acquire a reputation for being one of the best in her field and had a loyal group of ranchers that secured her services for many years.


In 1980, Susie was blessed with her first son, Nevada Russell Ellison. In 1982, Susie was again blessed with a second son, Cody Bill Ellison. Susie raised her boys in Custer, South Dakota and watched them achieve athletic acclaim as football and basketball players. Susie was their basketball coach in the early years and was and forever will be their number one fan.


During her many years as an A-I Breeder, Susie became reacquainted with an old friend and later went on to marry this best friend, Jeff Ellison. In 2004, Jeff and Susie were blessed with a daughter, Samantha Jo Ellison. Sammie hit the ground following in her mother's footsteps with the same love for animals as her mother. Together, Jeff and Susie ranched and farmed north of Lemmon, South Dakota. Her sons have recently joined Susie and Jeff to work on the ranch and to be close to their mother.


In 2008, Cody blessed her with her first grandchild, Brody. In 2009, Cody blessed her again with a granddaughter, Piper.


In August of 2014, Susie was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. She fought a long and hard battle struggling through many painful days. During this time, many friends and family rallied by her side. Susie gathered strength from the love and support shown to her by her sister-in-laws, Julie Lockert, Becky Brocks, Lynette Stugelmeyer and Shelly Krisle along with several of their spouses and children. Two sister-friends, Linda Higgins and Marlene Gloe were by her side throughout this journey to remind Susie that she was not alone. Her cousin, Doug Young, one of her three musketeers, spent precious moments with her. Susie drew comfort knowing that her in-laws, Mitch and Edna Ellison loved and cared for their daughter on her many trips to doctor and hospital appointments. By Susie's side throughout all of this journey was her loving husband Jeff. Susie's two sisters, T.J. Sharp and Vicki Fisher were honored that she chose to include them in her journey spending days and weeks together in hopes of fighting and winning her battle with cancer. Susie's parents and children were never far from her side. Susie loved and felt the many, many prayers offered for her by friends and family and was overwhelmed by the love shown to her by those she didn't even know. Susie passed from this life on Tuesday evening, December 15, 2015 at the Hospice House in Rapid City following a courageous battle.


Susie is survived by her husband, Jeff, daughter, Samantha Jo, sons, Nevada and Cody, all of Lemmon, SD; her mother and father, Russell and Denaldo Bornong, Isabel, SD; her sisters, T.J. (Gus) Sharp, Havre, MT; Vicki Fisher, Rapid City, SD; Sande Marso, Isabel, SD; her mother and father-in-law, Mitchel and Edna Ellison, Lemmon, SD; several in-laws which include in part Julie (Tom) Lockert, Bowman, ND, Becky (Ryan) Brooks, Bowman, ND, Lynette (Troy) Stugelmeyer, Buffalo, SD and Shelly (Troy) Krisle, St. Cloud, Florida; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.


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