Donald Ellsworth

Memorial Services: Thursday, September 16, 2004, at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home in Gillette, WY

Interment: Friday, September 17, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota

Memorial services for Donald Ellsworth will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 16, 2004, at the Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home Chapel in Gillette, Wyoming with Pastor Marty Crump of the Family Life Church officiating and military honors provided by American Legion Post #42. Inurnment will be 10:00 a.m., September 17, 2004 at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota with full military honors provided by the Sturgis Honor Guard of Sturgis, South Dakota.

Donald Ellsworth, age 80, of Gillette, Wyoming, passed away September 13, 2004, at his home of natural causes.

Donald Stanford Ellsworth was born July 2, 1924, the son of Andrew and Bernice (Stempson) Ellsworth in Rugby, North Dakota. Donald was raised and educated in Rugby. Upon his schooling, at the age 17, he entered the U.S. Army. During his service, he was stationed in the Philippines and was honorably discharged in March of 1946. Following his discharge, he returned home to North Dakota and began what became his life long career as a mechanic. On September 5, 1947, he married Cecilia Shorty Koenig, where the couple had eloped to Wolf Point, Montana. Donald and Shorty started their home in Rugby. Don accepted a job with Halliburton that took him and his family to Tioga, North Dakota and Glendive, Montana, and finally to Gillette, Wyoming in 1970. Don retired from Halliburton in the mid 1970s. To keep himself busy during his retirement, he continued his work as a mechanic at various trucking businesses in the area.

Don enjoyed fishing and playing cards. He especially enjoyed teaching and playing cribbage with his grandchildren. He loved his grandbabies. Most of all, he loved dancing with his partner, Shorty.

Grateful to have shared his life with his wife of 57 years, Shorty, of Gillette, Wyoming; two sons: Roy (Laurie) Ellsworth; Randy (Bambi Schumacher) Ellsworth; three daughters: Donna (Dean) Nickel; Jean (Bob) Edwards all of Gillette, Wyoming; Gale (James) Folvag of Grenora, North Dakota; two sisters: Ruth Fedje of Rugby, North Dakota; Bette Bailey of Battle Lake, Minnesota; ten grandchildren; seven great grandchildren with one on the way and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother and one sister.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Dons name to benefit Hospice of Campbell County Memorial Hospital. Donations may be sent in care of Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716. Condolences may also be sent via the internet at www.stevensonandsons.com.