MILLER — Aaron C. Ellsworth, 91, of Miller, passed away Sunday, November 20, 2022, at his home.

 
Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Miller, with Rev. Teresa Whetsel, officiating. Burial will be at a later date at the G.A.R. Cemetery in Miller. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  

Aaron Colby Ellsworth was born to George and Della (Cunningham) on Dec. 19, 1930, in Lane. He was the oldest of seven children.

In 1945, George and Della moved their family to a ranch north of Ree Heights. Aaron graduated from Ree Heights High School in 1948.

In 1949, he met the love of his life Rita Tagtow and they married in 1951. Aaron served his country proudly from 1952-1954, training soldiers to drive tanks during the Korean War. Aaron and Rita raised their family on the Ellsworth Ranch, retiring in 1998.

Aaron was a member of Greenleef United Methodist church and when Greenleef closed he became a member of the First United Methodist church in Miller. He was a member of the Ree Heights American Legion, when the Ree Heights American Legion closed he became a lifetime member of the Polo American Legion.

Aaron was always there to give a hand to anyone who might need it. He was a hard worker and he and Rita enjoyed calving season. The only thing he didn’t like to do was fix fence! When Saturday night rolled around, he was ready to head to town to visit with friends.  Aaron enjoyed a good game of cards, a dance, and a nice cold beer.

Aaron is survived by his wife, Rita; daughter, Janice (Doug) Purrington; sons: Mike (Susie) Ellsworth and Steve Ellsworth; son-in-law, Wayne Brock; grandchildren: Kara (Dan), Grady and Haley Heffner, Kristen (Ryan) Rittel, Kaitlyn (Clinton), Kenley, Carter, Khloe and Colsen McKee, Reis (Mikayla) and Colby Rittel, Jonathan (Deidra) Bailey, Nichole, Amia, Raegan, Evelyn and Maliyah Deuter, Sarah, Charlie and Adeline Theophilus, Lindsey (Alex), Bode, Tripp and Ellsworth Bahe, Jamie (Demarion), Miller and Louie Mapp, Kelly (Brandon), Cooper and Tessa Bushnell, Dani (Kyle), Hal and Olan Bertsch; siblings: Patricia Shaw, Karen (Bob) Kroning, Barbara (Gordon) Sluneka and Janice (Gene) Moncur; sister-in-law, Sandy Smith; brother-in-law, Roger Tagtow; and many nieces and nephews.

Aaron is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Cheryl Brock; granddaughter, Kenzi Ellsworth; brothers: Kenneth (Barbara), Robert (Bernice); brother-in-law, Jasper Shaw; parents-in-law: George (Kathrine) Tagtow; and sisters-in-law: Phylis (Pete) Bell and Lorraine (Everett) Ellerton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests all memorials be sent to the Miller Area Community Foundation, 620 West 3rd St., Miller, S.D. 57362.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Aaron’s arrangements.  

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