Earl "Jim" Ellingson

Earl James “Jim” Ellingson Jr. passed away on Nov. 15, 2021 in Hamilton, MT at the age of 89. Jim was born in Decorah, Iowa, on Feb. 12, 1932 to Earl Ellingson and Elsie (Nesset) Ellingson. His father died before Jim was born and his mother later married his stepfather, Milford Quam. Jim enlisted in the Air Force when he was 17 and honorably served four years as an airplane mechanic during the height of the Korean War. After his discharge from the service Jim married and had two sons. He moved his family back to Iowa and later to Montana where he became an excellent carpenter and craftsman. He built and oversaw the construction of hundreds of beautiful custom homes throughout Iowa, Minnesota, and Montana. After his retirement from home construction Jim lived in Minnesota until 2013 when he moved back to the Bitterroot Valley, Montana, to be near his eldest son, Jim, and his family. Jim will forever be missed. He was a kindhearted man who always had a ready smile and was liked by all who knew him. He will always be remembered and loved for the wonderful dad, grandpa, brother, and friend that he was. Jim was preceded in death by his father Earl James Ellingson; mother Gertrude Elsie (Nesset Ellingson) Quam; stepfather A. Milford Quam; sisters Shirley Dahlstrom, Elsie Lewis, and Alice Quam; brothers Milton Quam and Roy Quam; sister-in-law Carol Quam; and brothers-in-law Kenneth Juve and Robert Dahlstrom. Jim is survived by his sons Earl “Jim” Ellingson III (Edie) and Paul Ellingson (Sue); grandsons Earl Ellingson IV (Christina) and Nick Ellingson (Amanda); granddaughters Erica Ellingson and Caitlin Ellingson; great grandchildren Earl V “James”, Abrielle, Asher, Arella, Nora, and Everett Ellingson; sisters June Juve, Penny Mestad (Larry), Nancy Zweibohmer (Ron); brothers Carsten Quam, Norman Quam (Maxine), Dale Quam (Evelyn), Roger Quam (Louise), Alfred Quam (Debbie); sisters-in-law Orma Quam and Maribeth Rover; brother-in-law Wayne Lewis; and many nephews and nieces. We invite friends and family to join us for the interment of ashes with military honors at Springwater Cemetery, Decorah, on Friday, May 27, 2022 at 11am, followed by a Celebration of Life and lunch at the Decorah Elks Lodge, 105 River St, Decorah.