Marie Ellsworth, age 98, a long t ime resident of Prior Lake , MN , was joyfully reunited in heaven with her husband, Howard , on Wednesday morning , October 28, 2020 , while residing at Zumbrota Care Center, Zumbrota, MN.
A private family burial will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery .
On June 26, 1922, in South St. Paul, MN, Marie was welcomed by parents Edward and Margaret (Abel) Giguere. S he spent most of her time living on the edge of South St. Paul, where Marie and her siblings would help the area garden farmers harvest the crops. T his hard work allowed Marie to purchase a new bike one year. In 1934, her parents purchased a cabin on Prior Lake, where they spent most of the summer. Marie loved attending school with her favorite subject being Math. Numbers h as always been her things. She could remember just about anything when it came to numbers, dates, account numbers, prices, etc. Marie enjoyed playing school sports, especially softball and graduated from South St. Paul High School in 1941.
After high school, Marie waited patiently for 2 ½ years for the release from a p risoner of war camp in Germany , to marr y Howard I. Ellswort h , on June 16, 1945, in South St. Paul. They were blessed with seven children, Tom, Cathy, Bill, Lynn, Dave, Art and Annette. Marie and Howard settled down in South St. Paul. They also bought property on Prior Lake in 1958, where the family enjoyed swimming, water skiing, boating and fishing. After Howard retired in 1980, Marie and he built a home and moved there permanently. Together, they enjoyed the monthly dances at the Prior Lake V.F.W. and the poker parties with friends. Marie was also very proud in being an active member of the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary.
Most of Marie’s career was spent being a devoted wife and mother. In her earlier years , she worked at Swift and Armor Packing Plant and Western Electric. After the children were older, Marie worked 12 years at Target. But life for her was about being charitable. Marie volunteered for over 26 years at the Shakopee Thrift Store. But through the years, Marie’s volunteering changed to knitting hundreds of stocking caps for the needy , throughout the county and metropolitan area. She even received an award for her volunteer work from the Prior Lake V.F.W. Auxiliary. Over the years, Marie has made lap blankets , hats, scarves, diaper pants, sweaters and so much more for her family or anyone who needed them . Her volunteer worked also included thousands of rosary Marie made for the church. She also had a green thumb growing plants and flowers. You can say Marie was an e xtreme gardener . In her later years, arts, and crafts, playing cards and coloring filled her days.
Marie lived a long full life and now will be missed by her children, Tom Ellsworth, Cathy Paulson, Bill Ellsworth , Lynn (Eric) Tuominen, Dave (Tama) Ellsworth, Art (Monica) Ellsworth, Annette Ellsworth; g randchildren, Jamie Paulson, Joe (Emily) Ellsworth, Carl (Janet) Ellsworth, Brad Ellsworth, Jon Ellsworth, Phil (Erin) Ellsworth, Britni (Karl) Lane, Nick (Callie) Kieffer, Dan yelle (Chad) Flemming, Jessica (Casey) McKone; many great grandchildren and more on the way; other relative and friends .
Preceded in death and there to welcome Marie home is her beloved h usband, Howard; grandson, Zach Bastyr; siblings, Lawrence (Bonnie) Giguere, Sis (Joe) Okoren, Francis (Jo) Giguere, and Richard (Bernice) Giguere .
