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Obituaries » Mildred J. Ellis
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Show Obituaries Show Guestbook Show Photos QR Code PrintMildred J. Ellis
January 5, 1926 - January 3, 2019
Burial Date January 10, 2019
Funeral Home Henry W. Anderson Mortuary, Apple Valley
Cemetery Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Service Location South Suburban Evangelical Free Church
Ellis, Mildred J.
age 92, of Farmington, MN went to be with the Lord on January 3, 2019. Mildred was born on January 5, 1926 in Butterfield, MN. As a young farm girl, she learned the discipline of daily chores and hard work. She was born into a strong Christian home where morning Bible reading and prayer was a daily family activity. Her attendance at church was not only anticipated but valued and enjoyed by her and eventually her two sisters and three brothers.
At the young age of 5 or 6, Mildred asked Jesus to become her personal Savior. When the weather was stormy and hindered travel to school, she and her sister Vera would stay in town with their Linscheid grandparents in Butterfield. Their grandmother was a skilled story teller, especially with the Old Testament story of Joseph. Their grandparents would also sing German hymns in the evening with the girls. When at home, Mildred remembered the singing of hymns around the family piano after the farm work was done. Later, as a teenager, Mildred made a public confession of her faith through baptism, in a lake near Butterfield.
In February 1945, after high school, she enrolled in Northwestern Bible School in Minneapolis, MN, where she studied Christian Education and helped lead several Vacation Bible Schools. It was there in December of 1946, where on a blind date, she met a WWII veteran named Robert Ellis, a pastoral student at Northwestern. She wasn’t thrilled at first, but he grew on her and became the man of her dreams. They were married on June 19, 1948 in Butterfield, MN.
Upon graduation they were called to pastor the First Baptist Church in Ansley, NE. From there, they went on to be involved in pastoral ministry for over 50 years in 18 churches and in 9 states. During this time, they had the opportunity to raise one lovely daughter and four lively sons who are also strong in their faith and love for the Lord.
Mildred’s role as a pastor’s wife was an essential part of each ministry. She led choirs and taught Teacher Training Courses that helped to build the Church’s leadership and spiritual growth. She was always an understanding and faithful team member or, in Dad’s words, “the gravy” in their ministry.
Her favorite worship approach in song would be: “I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you. Oh, my soul, rejoice. Take joy, my King, in what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.”
Mildred was preceded in death by Robert, her husband of 65 years, and will be missed by one daughter, 4 sons, 18 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters, 3 brothers and many other family members and friends.