Richard Jerome Ellenson

            Richard Jerome (Dick) Ellenson was born on Oct. 18, 1936 to Lloyd and Esther Ellenson in Ross, Minnesota. He passed away peacefully in Bemidji, MN on Oct. 10, 2023.

            Funeral Services will be 6:00 p.m., Friday, October 13, 2023 at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 14, 2023 at Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji. Military Honors will be provided by the Harold Baggenstoss VFW Post 1260.

            Dick was born the 4th oldest of nine children. His family moved from Ross to Warroad, MN when he was eleven. He spent his childhood working on the family farm raising dairy cattle and wheat. Dick entered the Navy in 1955 and served on the USS WASP (CVA-18) as a seaman and boat coxswain. While stationed at the Navy Yard in Boston, Mass., he met the love of his life Catherine Louise Angerami. They married in Salol, MN on August 31, 1957 and lived in Minnesota for 2 years before moving to Massachusetts. All three of Dick’s children were born in Boston. The family moved to Bemidji, MN in 1976. Dick worked as a home builder, eventually owning his own construction company. He then took a position with Super 8 Motels, Inc. as a construction supervisor, eventually settling in Eden Prairie, MN. After leaving Super 8 he worked for the Eden Prairie school district as a facilities maintenance supervisor until he retired in 2001. The couple remained in Eden Prairie until Catherine’s death in 2020. Dad then moved back to Bemidji to be closer to his daughter’s family, and resided there until the time of his death.

            Dick was an avid hunter and fisherman, taking trips up to his family’s old farm for bird and deer hunting. He also mentored his son and two grandsons in learning hunting skills. He loved fishing the local lakes in the summer as well as ice fishing trips to Lake of the Woods with his brothers. He continued woodworking as a hobby after his retirement, making beautiful pieces of furniture and cabinetry for his own home and his grandchildren. He was also an avid gardener and would always produce a bumper crop of vegetables in the summer.

            Dick was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his daughters Jeannine Ellenson of Altamonte Springs, FL; Joyce (Dennis) Kramer of Bemidji, MN; and his son Greg Ellenson of Hillsboro, OR. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Richard Kramer (Stacy), Anthony Kramer (Susan), and Ashley Kramer; as well as three great-grandchildren: Jack, Quinn, and Nora Kramer

            He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, four brothers and sisters, and several aunts and uncles.

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