Helen Mae Ollig

Helen Mae Ellefson, daughter of Loren and Hazel (Erickson) Ollig, was born May 9, 1926, in Winthrop, Minnesota. She grew up in Waverly, Minnesota, attended Howard Lake High School and was a graduate of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. On August 17, 1948, Helen was united in marriage to Kenneth Ellefson, in Waverly, Minnesota. They made their home in Ada, where they raised four children, and enjoyed 54 years together. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and was actively involved in the operation of the family telephone business. Helen's greatest enjoyment in life was her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Helen is survived by her husband, Ken, four children, Kristine (Rich) Merkens, Jim (Cindy) Ellefson, Nancy Merkens, all of Ada, and Mary Beth (John) Colvin, Hawley, Minnesota; eleven grandchildren, Andrew (Dionne) Merkens, Jenny (Jason) Eggen, Sarah (Tom) McKinney, Val (Nick) Arends, Nicolas Ellefson, Seth Merkens, Laura Merkens, Jimmy Ellefson, John J. Colvin, Vicki Ellefson, and Paul Colvin; eight great grandchildren, Adam and Annika Merkens, Kellie, Heidi, Brandon, and Brent "Pickle" Eggen, Jacob and Gracie Arends; her mother, Hazel Ollig, Phoenix, Arizona, who will celebrate her 100th birthday on December 10th, her sisters, Gail (Dale) Lillard, Phoenix, Arizona, and Joan (John) Rasmusson, Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Helen was preceded in death by her father, Loren, and her son-in-law, Bud Merkens.