Obituary of Ellen Elizabeth Follestad
On Wednesday, October 13th, 2021, Ellen Elizabeth Follestad, passed away at the age of twenty-one.
Ellen was born on May 18, 2000, in Edina, MN to Jennifer Follestad and Douglas Pierson. She Graduated from Minnesota Connections Academy in 2018. She worked at Plato Woodwork as a finisher full time, and she worked at Happy Hour Inn as a cook, server and bar tender part time.
Ellen was a very vibrant young lady who loved life and lived it to its fullest. She was working towards manifesting the life she dared to dream of. She was a hustler and goal getter. She would set a goal and chase it. Ellen fell behind in High School and managed to graduate on time; one of many proud moments for her. Her first car was a used Cadillac that was a beater, we set the bar high for her. She wanted that white Cadillac of hers and she made it happen. Her next goal was buying a home; she was well on her way to attaining that goal next year. Ellen was also as real as one could be. She would not sugar coat anything she said to anyone. If she had something to say, she would just say it.
She was an amazing sister; being that she was the eldest child, she knew the responsibility of setting an example was on her shoulders. She took that responsibility extremely seriously. She wanted her siblings to see her hustle and build her life. Ellen set the example of go out there and get what you want. Work for it and make it happen. She also would scold her siblings when they were out of line and told them she expected them to do better. She was there for them in some of their hard moments; but she also celebrated the big moments with them. Ellen frequently was available for them. They would spend time together and do things together. She would listen when they needed to talk and converse with them. She always was available to play with her little sister; they were two silly peas in a pod. Most of all she loved her siblings strongly and fiercely. She was determined to lead by example for them.
Ellen left behind a wonderful boyfriend as well. Their chapter was just starting and ended too abruptly. She spoke very highly of him and loved him dearly. As she would say “he had the one vibes.” They worked together and she got to experience many great things with him. One of them going out on the motorcycle, she loved going on rides. They were going to have a wonderful future together.
Ellen was an amazing daughter and Step- daughter; she was our shining light. We wanted to raise a strong, fierce and independent young lady, and we did just that. Ellen had this beautiful, sweet and tender side to her. She could make an entire room light up with her smile and her laugh was infectious. She also had established a great set of boundaries; if you crossed those boundaries, you knew it. She would come for you and let you know very directly about your place. Ellen had a great work ethic, she made us really proud with how hard she was working to make something of herself and build a beautiful life for herself. We enjoyed our family nights together sitting around the fire, listening to music. We will miss how she would randomly stop over and chat or even to do her laundry.
Ellen was preceded in death by her father Douglas Pierson, who passed away from motorcycle an accident in June of 2019. Ellen leaves behind her mother, Jennifer Follestad-Quam, Stepfather, Ryan Quam. Three brothers and a little sister; Cameron Malley, Lucas Follestad, Wyatt Follestad and Sadie Follestad-Quam. She left behind her Grandparents Bruce and Belinda Follestad, Janell and Mark Kelly. As well as step grandparents; Paul and Sue Quam. Several aunts, uncles and cousins; as well as several close family friends that were considered aunts, uncles and cousins.
We will be Celebrating Ellen Life on Saturday, October 30th, 2021. Visitation begins at 11am with a Celebration of Life service at 1p at Glencoe City Center located at 1107 11th street East, Glencoe, MN, 55336. The Family will have a private internment. Ellen will be placed to rest with her dad, Douglas Pierson.
A note from mama:
Ellen, you touched so many lives, too many to count. That is so amazing to me! We will never understand the why in all of this. Why so young, why such a beautiful soul, why? You had your entire future in front of you and it was going to be beautiful and full of joy. Many people will grieve over your death for a very long time, and that is absolutely okay. We will all grieve differently too; the important part is we have a wonderful support system and that we all grieve in our own ways together. Thank you to all my friends and family who helped me raise such a wonderful young lady, we did not do too bad for a bunch of teenagers who had no clue what we were doing in the beginning. Ellen, you made so many people proud, I know you knew that because we told you that all the time. We will all carry you in our hearts because you held a very special place in our hearts. We will learn to live in a world where you no longer physically exist with us. We will find joy in the small and large moments together. We will sit in our grief, feel it and own it. We just need to remember not to unpack our bags and stay there too long. You would not want that, but we will all visit our grief as needed. We know the emotions are going to ebb and flow like the tides and we will have good and bad days. Enjoy those cloudy highways with your dad. For whatever reason, it is his turn now. Doug, watch over our Baby E, it is on your shoulders now.
See ya later baby girl, love ya- Mama
