Ellen Waldron, age 91, of 616 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Huron, SD, died Thursday evening, January 22, 2009, at the Huron SunQuest Healthcare Center.

Her funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 27, at Welter Funeral Home with burial at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday from 1-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with family present from 6-8 p.m, as well as prior to the service Tuesday morning.

Ellen Waldron was born Mary Ellen Graham on April 12, 1917, to Beadle County pioneers Russell and Mattie (Mackey) Graham in Huron, SD. She grew up in the Manchester and Huron areas and graduated from Huron High School in 1935.

She worked in Huron as a clerk in a grocery store and as an aid at the Sprague Hospital.

On December 29, 1937, Ellen married Elmer Waldron in Huron. The couple lived their entire married life in Huron where Ellen was a homemaker and raised their 4 children. Ellen was extremely devoted to her family, never missing a concert or sporting event for many years. Later, she was a constant supporter of her many grandchildren.

Ellen became a resident of the SunQuest Healthcare Center on October 6, 2008.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church; co-founder of the McKinley School PTA; several card clubs; and was an election captain for the northern Huron precinct for many years.

Her many interests included crocheting, playing cards, country western music, an avid fan of the New York Yankees, she collected figurine squirrels and cats, and Cabbage Patch dolls. Ellen was a longtime member of the Huron Reddy-Kilowatt Club and was a major long-time participant in the March of Dimes. She was proud to have attended 90 South Dakota State Fairs.

Grateful to have shared her life are: 1 daughter, Rona (Jim) Stephens of Pierre; 1 son, Verald Waldron of Minneapolis, MN; 12 grandchildren, Kirsten (David) Page, Lindsay Stephens, Justin Stephens, Erin (Josh) Watkins, Kira (Forcucci) Watkins, Tracey Grant, Rhonie (Juan) Waldron, Lori (Dave) Hertzberg, Rock (LeAnn) Lopour, Dirk Lopour, David (LeanRae) Lopour, and Mike (Adria) Lopour; 16 great grandchildren; 2 sons-in-law, Joe Lopour (Jean) of Cedar City, UT, and Ken Watkins of Houston, TX; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer on December 14, 1987; 2 daughters, Brenda Lopour and Denise Kay Watkins; 1 grandson, Rory Waldron; 1 daughter-in-law, Beverly Waldron; 8 brothers; and 6 sisters.

Ellen was much loved by her family and friends, and will be missed by many.