Eileen Claire Ellefson

Eileen Claire (Boland) Ellefson died on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 Eileen Claire (Boland) Ellefson died on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Eileen was born on June 19, 1937 on Woodard Street in Chicago Illinois to John and Esther (Rude) Boland. Her mother died when she was four years old, and her father then married Emmy Gunderson. Emmy held the Boland family together. John died when Eileen was still a child, and Emmy married Rudy Larson. Emmy and Rudy Larson were always known as "Granny and Grandpa Larson." Eileen was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Chicago. She graduated from La Crosse Central High School in 1955. She worked at Continental Assurance Company in Chicago. On March 22, 1958, she married Reuben Ellefson at Bethel Church in Chicago. She was active in Bethesda Lutheran Church, Sons of Norway, and the Snowflake Junior Ski Club. Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, John and Esther; her step-parents, Emmy and Rudy; two brothers, Richard Boland and Robert Boland; brothers-in-law Reverend Elmer Ellefson, Willard Erlandson and Eddie Pederson; and sister-in-law Eva Pederson. She is survived by her husband of almost forty-nine years, Reuben; four children; Dan, his fianc Karen of Westby; Barb (George) Foss of Reedsburg; Peder (and friend Kelly Scholtz) of Westby; and Tom of Viroqua; her beloved grandchildren Jennifer (Derek) Mulhausen of La Crosse; Tyler Fortney of Dodge; Anthony and Samantha Foss of Reedsburg; and Hannah Ellefson of Viroqua; Matt, Ellen, Keith, Kathleen and Nick McAleer of Westby. She is also survived by her brother, Edward (Virginia) Boland of Sister Bay, WI; sisters-in-law Lilah Boland of Longwood, FL; Cara Lea Boland of Elgin, IL; Hazel Erlandson of Westby; Joann Ellefson of Viroqua; Agnes (Paul) Heinzel of La Crosse; a step-brother, Rev. Richard (Elaine) Larson; and many very special cousins who took care of their only "girl" cousin; nieces, nephews, and other close relatives and friends. She would also want to say she is survived by over one hundred children that she could remember by name and birth date from her day care years from 1969 to 1999, her special friend Toni (David) Oium, her Bethesda Family, and their boat friends from the Municipal Harbor. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 at the Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church on West Park Street in Westby. Pastor Lindell Quam will officiate with burial at Zion Lutheran Church, Viroqua, following the service. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4 - 7 p.m. at the Vosseteig Funeral Home, 708 South Hwy 14 in Westby. The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.