Leland “Speed” Ellingson

Leland “Speed” Ellingson age 91 of Tracy, passed away Friday, January 18, 2013 at the Sanford Tracy Medical Center. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 22 at Tracy Lutheran Church. 

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.  Interment is in the Redwood Falls Cemetery.  Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Leland Charles “Speed” Ellingson was born June 17, 1921 in rural Leavenworth Township, Brown County, Minnesota to Elvin and Iona (Utterback) Ellingson.  He was baptized in Waterbury Lutheran Church and was confirmed in 1939 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Johnsonville Township.  He attended Wabasso Public School.  On December 20, 1943, he was united in marriage to Bernice Irene Gilb at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tracy, MN.  Leland farmed all of his life, and also worked for Farm Bureau in Wabasso.  He later drove bus for Milroy Public School.  Leland loved to go swimming and always had his membership to the Tracy pool.  During retirement, he and his high school friends would travel anywhere within 150 miles just to find a swimming pool.  Leland loved fishing and hunting, and was a CB radio enthusiast.  He also enjoyed visiting with his family and friends, and was a great story teller. 

Leland is survived by his wife Bernice of 69 years; children: LeRoy Ellingson of Amiret, Arleen (Ron) Meulebroeck of Marshall, Charles (Connie) Ellingson of Maplewood, MN, and Jim (Becky) Ellingson of Tracy; 12 grandchildren: Jeff, Mike, David, Lee, Scott, Sheri, Jason, Justin, Jamie, Michelle, Nathan, Aaron; and 20 great-grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Irma Norcutt.