In Loving Memory of

Nellie Ellgen

Nellie Ellgen was born on April 11, 1931 near Chandler, Minnesota to Bastiaan and Annie Van’t Hof Van Eck. As a young girl Nellie moved with her family to a farm in Ellsborough Township where she attended country school.  On May 2, 1952 she and Lester Ellgen were married in Holland, MN.  Following their marriage they farmed near Lake Wilson, MN and raised their four children.  In 1975 they retired and moved to Lake Wilson.  Les and Nellie owned and operated Les and Nel’s Car Wash in Lake Wilson.  They also worked as custodians at Minnwest Bank in Lake Wilson for 30 years.  Lester passed away on July 2, 1996.  Nellie remained in Lake Wilson until 2009 when she moved to Lindenwood Assisted Living in Slayton.  Due to failing health Nellie moved to Our House Hospice Home in Slayton on March 4, 2017 and passed away there on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at the age of 85.  She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson.  Nellie enjoyed spending time with her family, visiting with friends, fishing, walking, flowers, playing cards, word search puzzles, and playing her hand held Yahtzee and Solitaire games. Just watching her great-grandchildren enjoying life was enough for Nellie.

Survivors include her four children and their spouses, Connie and Kent Shea of Slayton, MN, Roger and Kathy Ellgen of Lake Wilson, MN, Rodney and Brenda Ellgen of Tracyton, WA, and Patty and Wes Scholtes of Worthington, MN; nine grandchildren; Kory and Susan Shea, Cari and Adam McCoy, Teri Ellgen, Renae Ellgen, Kelly Krumm, Rachelle and Josh Silvernale, Chelsey Ellgen and Rylan and Tyson Scholtes; 12 great-grandchildren; Alexis, Kyler, and Tayden Shea, Cooper and Ava McCoy, Haley, Justin, and Courtney Krumm, Hunter and Isaac Kruger and Olivia and Zoe Silvernale; three siblings and their spouses, Corky and Mary Van Eck of Chandler, MN, Jennie and Bob Van Roekel of Sioux Falls, SD, and Annie and Richard Severeid of Lafayette, CO; two sisters-in-law, Gerdena Van Eck of Pipestone, MN, and Jan Van Eck of Luverne, MN; and several nieces and nephews and their families.  She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Lester, grandson, Drew Scholtes, great-granddaughter, MaKayla Shea, infant brother, Tony, three brothers, Hugo, John and Bastiaan “Bud” Van Eck; three sisters, Cornelia Bodewitz, Margaret Eisfeld and Annetta Eisfeld.

Funeral Services

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson, MN on Monday, March 20, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Chris Naig officiating.  The organist is Darlene Bose with special music by Heidi Winter.  The pallbearers are Rylan Scholtes, Tyson Scholtes, Kory Shea, Adam McCoy, Allen Van Eck, and Donnie Van Eck.  Interment is at Hillside Cemetery in Lake Wilson, MN. 

Visitation will be on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at the Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton from 4-6 p.m. and also one hour prior to the services at the church on Monday.