Raymond Keith ELLINGSTON

ELLINGSTON, ULSTAD, JANSSEN, ROKKE, PROHASKA, SUMMERS, OBRECHT, VANZWOL, WILLIAMS, MICHELSON, BAILEY, CHRISTENSON, NELSON, HOPKEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:46

January 26, 1933 ----- March 26, 2020

Raymond “Ray” Keith Ellingston, 87, of Belmond, Iowa, died Thursday, March 26, 2020, at Iowa Specialty Hospital, Belmond, Iowa.

Due to restrictions of the Covid–19 virus, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Ray was born January 26, 1933 on the family farm west of Belmond, the son of Elling and Nettie Osada (Ulstad) Ellingston. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, rural Belmond. He attended Rural Country School #4 and Belmond High School, graduating in 1951. After high school, Ray farmed with his father and brother, Leo. He was drafted into the Army and served from 1953 until 1955. He then returned to Belmond to continue farming with his father and brother.

Ray married Rebecca “Becky” Charlotta Janssen on September 23, 1956, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church west of Belmond. They were blessed with 3 children; Charlotta, Debra, and Lynn. They farmed together west of Belmond until they retired in 2000.

Ray was a gifted musician who didn’t read music but played the piano, organ, accordion and guitar by ear and played it well. He was a gifted singer and sang in the church choir and with the Men’s Chorus. He loved animals and raised cattle and hogs. He often brought a puppy home from the sale barn that he had fallen in love with. Ray had many hobbies and collected various things. In retirement, Ray and Becky made rag rugs on their looms. They attended fairs and festivals in the area where they would sell their beautiful rugs.

Ray is survived by his wife of 63 ½ years, Rebecca. Their children: Char (Paul) Rokke and Lynn of Belmond. Grandchildren: Gina (Steve) Prohaska, Jared (Amanda) Rokke, Jason (Caylee) Rokke, Jeff (Taylor Summers) Obrecht, David Obrecht, Katie (Dillan) VanZwol, Austin (Kailee Williams) Ellingston, and Brianna (Jeremy) Williams. Nine great- grandchildren; sister-in-law Opal Ellingston; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Deb Obrecht; great-granddaughter, Jayden; siblings: Maxine (Elmer) Michelson, Virgil (Keith) Bailey, Eunice (Lloyd) Christenson, Bernice (Robert) Nelson, Avis (Marvin) Hopkey and Leo Ellingston.

Memorial suggestions to: St Olaf Cemetery Fund; Immanuel Reformed Church of Belmond (Memorial Fund); Gateway Hospice – Clarion, Iowa; or the donor’s choice. Andrews Funeral Homes

https://www.andrewsfuneralhomeandfloral.com/obituary/raymond-ellingston