Ila Hazel Ellingson (Park) passed peacefully in Salmon Arm, B.C. on Friday May 25th, 2012.
Ila is survived by her four loving children: Gail LeDuc of Sorrento , B.C., Jim (Ruth) Ellingson of Cranbrook, B.C., Bob (Barb) Ellingson of Victoria, B.C. and Faye Ellingson of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Her 11 Grandchildren, 21 Great Grandchildren and 4 Great, Great Grandchildren will miss her mischievous sparkle in their lives.
Ila was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan on May 14, 1916 to Alexander and Susan Park. Their family was a large one, common for those pioneering days, with two sisters and seven brothers. Her family homesteaded in the McKague area where Ila also attended school, being the first person to complete grade eight in the whole district.
On October 11, 1935 Ila married Chester (Chet) Ellingson in Tisdale Saskatchewan. The newlyweds worked throughout BC on various jobs but the ranching lifestyle called them back to the interior of B.C. where they worked both the Gang and Douglas Lake Ranches. Both Chet and Ila had an entrepreneurial spirit and eventually opted to go into business for themselves running country stores starting in Alexandria in the Caribou, Hudson Hope in the Peace River, Takysie Lake in Mid B.C., and finally, Fauquier in the Kootenays. Ila was particularly fond of running the post offices that were attached to their stores and was also famous for her homemade pies that she made for the lunch counters. With all this multitasking it is no wonder that Ila instilled such a strong work ethic in her family.
Upon retirement Ila still worked hard in her large gardens and, always athletic, also took up golfing and cross-country skiing. However, cards were always her favorite pastime and if you ask any generation in the family it is certain that she taught and probably beat them all with that lucky streak she had. Ila’s other loves were her country music and dancing. Her family and friends will always remember her for her mischievous sense of humor and the twinkle in those amazingly blue eyes of hers.
The family would like to thank the management and staff of both Piccadilly Terrace and the Hillside Samaritan Home for all their kind caring of our mother/grandmother while she was in their care.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Ila Ellingson will be held at the St. Mary’s Chapel in Sorrento, B.C. on June 30th , 2012 at 11 a.m.
Online condolences can be sent through Ila’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com