Lois Ione (Ellefson) Carlson peacefully passed away on July 29, 2018 in the Centerville Care and Rehab facility in Centerville, SD.  She was 84 years young.  Funeral services will be held at Dalesburg Lutheran Church in rural Vermillion, SD on Saturday, August 4 , 2018 at 10AM. Visitation will be 5-8PM Thursday, August 2nd at the church with the family present from 6-8PM and a prayer service at 7PM. (Please note dates!)

Lois Ione Ellefson was born on August 12, 1933 to Bernt and Anna (Anderson) Ellefson. She was raised alongside her sisters, Judy, Helen, Olive, and Clarice and brother, Arvin, on the Oakridge Farm in Yankton County near Volin, SD.  Their childhood was spent on this picturesque farm where they enjoyed plums, chokecherries, and mulberries. Lois was baptized and confirmed at Trondjhem Lutheran Church near Volin, SD. She attended Lindberg, Pleasant Valley, and Wakonda grade schools. The family later moved to her Grandpa Anderson's farm near Beresford, SD.

Lois graduated from Beresford High School in 1951. It was there she met the love of her life, Roscoe Conway Carlson. They were united in marriage on May 26th, 1951 at Trondjhem Lutheran Church. They made their home on a farm southwest of Beresford where they raised their four children (Ron, Patty, Gary, and Don) and attended Dalesburg Lutheran Church. Whether she brought lunch out to the field or made late night vanilla cake with chocolate frosting, Lois continually made sure her family's needs were met. She enjoyed summer nights at the Hub City baseball field, visiting neighbors and grandparents, and square dancing with her friends on the weekends.

In 1971, she began working as the Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Dakota.  In her own words, she "ran the place". After 25 years, she retired and enjoyed time with Roscoe (Poppy) at home and at the lake. Their home in Beresford and lake cabin at Swan Lake near Viborg, SD became gathering places for both family and friends. After Roscoe's passing in 2010, Lois continued hosting family celebrations, playing cards with friends, and attending worship services at Dalesburg Lutheran Church. She was always the life of the party.  She water skied on her 80th birthday and never turned down a ride on the carousel at the Turner County Fair! In her later years, Lois enjoyed her daily late-night conversations with her sister, Judy.  After a change in her health in 2016, Lois continued celebrating life at Centerville Care and Rehab where she welcomed staff and residents to become part of her family.

Proud and grateful for sharing her life are her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren:

Ron (Sandra) Carlson

Kristi (Jeramie) Adams

Josie, Jace, Alex, and Greyson

Aaron (Toni) Carlson

Anthony (Aubry-Daughter-Paisley), Cody (Whitney), Alicia, Sadie, Reese

Jessica (Jason) Sylte

Kingston, Gage, and Cambree

Patty (David (8/10/52-1/11/00) Buechler

Dr. Kari (Nick) Oyen

Addison, Katelyn

Michael Buechler

Jennifer Buechler (Ricky Loebs)

Lilliana, Zachary, Benjamin

Rebecca Buechler

Gary (Katie) Carlson

Jeremy (Kris) Carlson

Johnathan, Jayden

Johnathan (2/12/80-7/12/02) (Shannon) Carlson

Dr. Josh (Audri) Carlson

Stormi, Summer

Jordyn Butcher

Don (Elma) Carlson

Jason (Crystal) Carlson

Vanorah, Kinsley

Kevin (Stacie) Carlson

Jack, Taye

Sara (Jason) Miller

Roscoe

Sister-in-law Helen Ellefson, and many cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.

Lois was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Roscoe, her parents, Bernt and Anna, sisters, Judy (Virgil) Johnson, Helen (Albert) Haugen, Clarice (Kenneth) Fedderson, Olive (Vernon) Johnson, brother, Arvin Ellefson, brothers-in-law, Benhard Carlson, Leonard Carlson, Carol Carlson, and sister-in-law, Lucille (Bert) Cole.  She was also preceded in death by her grandson, Johnathan Carlson and son-in-law, David Buechler. Memorials can be directed to Dalesburg Lutheran Church.