Lorraine Ellerton

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Lorraine E. Ellerton, 94, of Highmore, passed away Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at the Highmore Health, Highmore, SD.

Memorial service were held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 17, 2012 at the United Methodist Church, Highmore with Pastor Kori Lehrkamp officiating.

Lorraine Eleanor was born in Dixon, South Dakota to George and Katherine (Kropinske) Tagtow on October 24, 1918.  She grew up on the Missouri River near Lower Brule.  Her family, including older sister Phylis and younger sister, Rita lived on their ferry boat during the summers and spent the winters in a nearby house.  Like others of that time, they grew their own food and fished and hunted.  She had a large family of relatives who visited back and forth, including her favorite cousin, Lucille.  The girls also worked on the ferry, their main job being cleaning, especially after livestock was ferried.  Her mother was the first licensed ferry operator in South Dakota.  Lorraine attended Lower Brule schools until her senior year, when she graduated from Springfield High School.  Her family moved to Springfield to find more work with the ferry boat.  After high school, she attended Greene’s Beauty School in Rapid City; paid for by her dad’s trapping and skinning, including skunks.

After graduating, she moved to Highmore and worked in a salon at the Franklin Hotel.  It was during this time she met the love of her life, Everett Ellerton at a dance at the Sheep Shed in Highmore.  They were married on June 3, 1940 in Chamberlain, South Dakota.  It rained hard the night before the wedding and the roads were bad so her dad took her to meet Everett in the boat.  They then made their home in Highmore, first in apartments and then in 1948 they moved into the house where they would spend the rest of their lives together in.

In 1942, Everett joined the Army.  Lorraine went with him around the country as he attended Signal Corps School.  Although it was difficult, she overcame her fears, traveling by bus and train, often alone to Kansas, California and New Jersey.  While Everett was overseas, she returned to Highmore and worked at Lee Grocery.  After Everett returned from the Army, they began their life in Highmore.  One of their favorite activities was hunting with friends.

When Everett started his own hardware store, Lorraine helped out, bringing him lunch, running the house ware department and doing the bookwork.  During these years, her main focus was her children, spending much time helping with their activities.  One of her favorite pastimes was her bridge club and she continued playing all kinds of card games.

After retirement, Everett and Lorraine had wonderful times traveling, taking cruises, visiting their children and spending winters in Yuma, Arizona.  During these times they volunteered on many projects, including Habitat for Humanity, the Food Bank, and their church groups in Yuma and Highmore and at the Highmore Healthcare Center.  Another of her favorite pastimes was shopping, accompanied by friends or with her very patient husband.  She loved collecting plates, mugs, chickens and shopping for clothes and jewelry.

Lorraine belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary, the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. 

Meeting at the Sheep Shed turned into a life shared in love for over 70 years.  Throughout her life, Lorraine always was there with unconditional love and understanding for her children and younger sister, Rita, who lived with them at times during her school years.

Grateful to have shared in her life was her son, John (Connie) Ellerton and their children: Matthew (Linda) Ellerton and family, Nicole and Austin; Skylar (Kim) Ellerton and family, Sarah, Maxwell and Daniel Ellerton; son, Brad Ellerton and his children: Sunny Ellerton and Justin (Kristine) Ellerton and family, Jace and special family friend, Julie Ellerton; daughter, Mary (Barry) Alger and their children: Todd Neuharth, Jackie (Sam) Dalton and family, Jessica, Mercedes and Darcy and Darcy’s daughter, Audrey Ann; Coty Wind, Donald (Ashley) Alger and family, Isabel, Mattea, Emma and Conner, Christina (Micky) Brehe, Karren Iron Heart, Theresa Alger-Wind, Treymaine Eagle Thunder Alger; Lorraine’s sister, Rita (Aaron) Ellsworth; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Everett and sister, Phylis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the United Methodist Women for Missions or the charity of your choice.

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Lorraine’s arrangements.