Ellen Mack, age 89, of Huron, SD, died Wednesday, October 6, 2010, (on her birthday) at Huron Regional Medical Center.

Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 9, at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish with burial at St. Martin Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday from 1-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with family present from 5-7 p.m. and a Rosary at 7:00 p.m.; or Saturday morning one hour prior to the service.

Memorials may be directed to Holy Trinity Catholic School.

Ellen Mack was born Ellen Gilberta Stimmler, daughter of George and Julia (Sakre) Stimmler, in Clear Lake, MN. Ellens parents died when she was 5 years old, and over the following years Ellen lived in various cities with her sisters. She graduated from high school in St. Paul, MN, in 1939. She then attended Minnesota Business School in the Twin Cities for 2 years and graduated with a secretarial degree. Ellen remained in the Twin Cities area and worked as a secretary for the H. J. Heinz Company during the years of World War II.

On October 13, 1945, Ellen married Carvel Bud Erickson in Clear Lake, MN. They lived in Minneapolis until moving to Huron in 1950. Ellen was a homemaker until the untimely death of her husband on October 23, 1957. She then worked part time as a secretary at a CPA Firm in Huron for a few years while devoting most of her time to raising her children.

In the summer of 1979, Ellen married Ralph Mack in Huron. Ralph died on May 2, 1984.

She was a very devout person and her Catholic faith was extremely important to her. Ellen volunteered as church sacristan, lay minister, and assisted with funerals. She also volunteered at the St. Francis Shop and the Senior Center.

Ellen was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish; Catholic Daughters; and the Huron Area Senior Center. Her many interests included gardening, knitting, baking, collecting angels, and attending her familys many activities.

She is survived by 5 children, Kenneth (Sandra) Erickson of Mountain City, TN, Nancy (Willis) Chrans of Gillette, WY, Robert (Kathryn) Erickson of Broken Arrow, OK, Julie (Tim Huyck) DeHaven of Huron, SD, and Mary (Douglas) Miller of Gillette, WY; 12 grandchildren, Kenneth Bud (Lynda) Erickson, Kimberly (Pete) Catoe, Sheila (Todd) Gundersen, Jen Chrans, Amy (Marcelo) Zolessi, Jodi Erickson, Sara Erickson, Katie (Jorge) Rodriguez, Rod (Amy) DeHaven, Tom (Jodi) DeHaven, Sheila Miller, and Staci Miller; and 16 great grandchildren.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; both of her husbands, Bud Erickson and Ralph Mack; 5 brothers and 4 sisters.