Obituary of Louann Carol Ellison

Lou Ann Carol Ellison passed away on Dec. 19, 2024. She was 83 years old.

Lou Ann (Lou) was born in Breckenridge, Minnesota on December 27, 1940 to Cleber and Sarah Spelhaug. She grew up on a farm in North Dakota, the oldest of two, where she helped tend the land, raise the animals, and occasionally chase her brother, Alan, with a rake. She graduated from Wyndmere High School as valedictorian in 1958. After graduation, Lou attended Concordia College and studied business. Soon she felt an itch to move and wanted a taste of the “big city.” She moved to Minneapolis where she worked in the nursery at Fairview Hospital while continuing her education at the MSP Business School, receiving a Certificate of Business Administration.

Fates aligned one ordinary day when she met the love of her life, Roy W. Ellison, while walking down the street with her best friend Pat in downtown Minneapolis. His clean fingernails, blue eyes and long eyelashes were all she needed to know he was the one. Roy and Lou married July 15, 1967, and raised three girls: Kristin, Jennifer and Aimee. Lou spent much of her career supporting others in administrative roles at Multifoods, Holy Family Catholic School, Dungarvin and Southdale Eye Clinic.

In her spare time, Lou dove deep into her passions, focusing on one thing for several years at a time until she mastered her craft. These included sewing, gardening, gourmet cooking, interior design and more. And when her grandchildren arrived, Lou spent much of her time caring for them. Her sense of humor translated into how she cared for the grandkids, putting them in buckets and pushing them around the house to give them a ride or dropping the cat on top of the dog to “see what would happen.”

While Lou had many passions and talents, what defined her was the care she gave for people she loved, both in daily life, and when they needed help most. She fed those she loved with gusto and a generous spoon. She had an open door for anyone who needed a place to stay, and while she was a

mother to her three girls, she was “like a second mom” to so many of their friends. She quit her job early to care for her mother-in-law full time when she was dying of cancer, and most recently, she took care of her husband with love, commitment and military precision for the last five years of his life. She did all this and more with incredible strength, a humble heart and great love. She made the lives of everyone around her better.

She is survived by her girls, Kristin Ellison (Perry Walz), Jennifer (Steve) Marso, and Aimee (John) Pappenfus; grandchildren, Cody and Clayton Feeback, Elli and Griffin Marso, and Brier, Isla and Emerson Pappenfus; brother and sister-in-law Alan and Shirley Spelhaug; nieces Susan (Randy) Moreno, Kristine (Lou) Kouts, and Lisa (Jay) Daly, and nephew Richard (Catherine) Spelhaug; and many family and friends.

Lou was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Roy Ellison; parents, Cleber and Sarah Spelhaug; and nephews, Mike, Mark and Larry Ellison.

A service honoring Lou will be held January 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, 5025 Knox Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55419. Visitation one hour prior to service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the VFW Hopkins, Open Arms of Minnesota or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.