James Christopher Ellerston 1916-2006

ELLERSON, MATTISON, WELSH, DESMIDT, MONTOYA

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/12/2013 at 18:44:09

James C. Ellerston
Crookston, Minn. – Memorial service for James C. [Christopher] Ellerston, 90, of Crookston, Minn., and formerly of Halfa, will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2006, at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel in Estherville with Pastor Lynn A. Potter officiating. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Estherville.

He passed away July 8, 2006, at Villa St. Vincent in Crookston, Minn.

James C. Ellerston was born June 8, 1916, the only son of Jane Welsh Ellerston and Chris R. Ellerston.

He graduated from Halfa High School at age 16 and attended Estherville Junior College. He became the means of support for his parents. Exempted from service in WWII, he was recognized for selling War Bonds.

He spent most of his working life farming the Welsh farmland in Jack Creek Township. He married Virginia Mattison in the Little Brown Church on Feb. 2, 1946. Virginia preceded him in death in 1983.

In 1956 he purchased a family cabin on Ten Mile Lake in Minnesota. He was famous for early corn planting in order to make the fishing season opening in Minnesota. Cooking for his guests at the cabin was a highlight of many visits for friends. Jim was active in the Masons and initiated into the Shriners. Virginia preceded him in death.

Jim continued to farm until he retired to his lake cabin in 1989, wintering on the farm near Ringsted. He entered care in Twin Valley, Minn., in 1994, moving in 1997 to Edgewood Vista in East Grand Forks, Minn., where he resided until 2006.

He is survived by three children, daughter, Jean Anne DeSmidt and sons James Ray Ellerston and Jon Alan Ellerston. He is survived by six grandchildren, James D. Montoya-DeSmidt, Joshua C. DeSmidt, Nicholas A.W. Ellerston, Haley M. Ellerston, Julia K. Ellerston, and Christopher M. Ellerston. He is also survived by two great-grandsons, Jameson DeSmidt and Jacob DeSmidt. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, July 11, 2006)