Glenn Albert Ellis

ELLIS KEELER HEATH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/20/2010 at 20:20:54

Woodbury County History 1984

Glenn and Marjorie Heath Ellis
By Nancy Ellis

Glenn Albert Ellis was born April 4, 1915, in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. His father, James Thomas Ellis, had come from England, where he had served in the 21st Lancers, to join his three sisters and an uncle in Canada. Glenn’s mother, Ruby Marr Keeler, was born in Buffalo, Minnesota, and the two met when she went to Red Deer to visit relatives. They were married in Buffalo, Minnesota, but made their home in Red Deer until shortly after Glenn was born. Then they moved to western Hennepin County Minnesota, where Tom Ellis was engaged in carpentry and dairy farming. During World War I, the family spent some time in Orange, Texas, where he worked in the shipyards. Other children born into the family were: Arthur J, Kendall ‘Mike, Marilyn and Walter T ‘Tommy’. Glenn graduated from Wayzata High School, Wayzata, Minnesota, in 1932. He was employed by the Western Weighing and Inspection Bureau, involved with railraod regulations, and retired in 1977 after forty years of service.

Marjorie Jean Heath was born June 13, 1920, in a Sioux City hospital. Her mother, Jetta Mae (Onstat) Heath, did not survive the birth, and Marjorie grew up in the Bronson area under the guidance of her father, Elmer, and her grandparents, Walter and Idella (Chase) Heath. Elmer was a contractor and builder in the Bronson area for many years. He remarried, in 1931, to Marguerite Clift of Holly Springs, and the family was completed with the birth of Margaret Ann Heath in 1932. Marjorie graduated form Bronosn High School in 1937.

Glenn and Marjorie met in Sioux City. He ahd been transferred there with his work and was sharing an apartment with George Crane, Melvin Jensen, Al Dietrich and Bob Haverkamp. Marjorie was living in Shesler Hall and working as a secretary, having completed training at NBT. They were married June 16, 1940, at First Presbyterian Church in Sioux City.

After a brief assignment in Davenport, Iowa, Glenn was transferred to St Paul, Minnesota, wehre they made their home until 1946. During World War II, Glenn served in the Navy Seabees in the Pacific, and Marjorie worked in St Paull. After the war, they were transferred to Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Their first daughter, Virginia Anne, was born in Fort Dodge on March 9, 1947. In 1949, they moved to Sioux City, where Nancy Elizabeth was born on July 2, 1950.

Both girls graduated from East High School in Sioux City. During th 1967-68 school year, the family was host to an American Field Service exchange student, Inger Marie Bergene of Aurdal, Valdres, Norway. Marie is still considered to be a part of the family and has been the reason for several enjoyable tribs to Europe. She is married to Gunnar Fossaa and they have two daughters, Ingrid and Gunhild, and a third child expected in April, 1984.

Virginia ‘Ginny’ earned her B.S. from Iowa State University and M.A. from University of Iowa. She is married to Ricahrd Stewart Bordwell and they live in Washington, Iowa. Their two daughters are Marilyn and Stephanie.

Nancy also attended Iowa State University, and has recently dedicated her life to the completion of this Woodbury County History Book.

The Ellis family has been active in Morningside Presbyterian Church since coming to Sioux City. Glenn is also a long-time member of the Sioux City Noon Lions Club and counts woodworking and painting among his hobbies. Marjorie retired in 1982 from the Sioux City Community Schools, and she and Glenn both enjoyed having the time to travel.