Obituary for Lorence Melville Ellgen Lorence Melville Ellgen was born on April 13, 1924 and passed peacefully from this life at his home on September 18, 2018. He was the second child and oldest son of Herman and Elizabeth Culverwell Ellgen and was born on the Ellgen Ranch located at the end of County Road 30 in Moffat County. In his early years, he attended the Round Bottom Schoolhouse located on the county road and learned to farm and ranch with his father and his younger brother, Philip.
When Lorence was old enough to drive, his mother bought an old car and allowed him to drive her and Philip into town for church. They were faithful life-long members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was at church one Sunday when Lorence first met Raeola, who had moved to town with her family.
The attraction was strong, and after dating for several years, Lorence and Raeola were married in the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 5, 1945 for time and all eternity. The honeymoon was short however, as Lorence had been called into the US Army and was deployed into non-combat service in South Korea. He left his bride just six days after their wedding for training in Texas, and thereafter was sent to South Korea where he operated heavy construction equipment during the buildup to the Korean War.
He returned home late in 1946 and he and Raeola settled into their home on the ranch at Round Bottom. Lorence worked hard on the ranch to provide for his growing family as nine children have the privilege and blessing of calling Lorence and Raeola their parents. In 1953, after the birth of their 5th child, they bought their home on the corner of Barclay and 6th Street in town so the children could attend school.
This home became a place of memories: remodeling projects, family Sunday dinners, 4-H lambs and County Fairs, chores, taking lunch to wheat harvesters, picnics at the Yampa River when relatives visit, Church activites, proms, basketball games, and all the busyness of raising a big family while running a ranch. During these years, Lorence held many leadership positions as an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was strong in his testimony of Jesus Christ and taught his children the value of a strong testimony.
He was never shy in his encouragement for others to try a little harder and to do a little better. He truly loved people and wanted to help those around him. He could often be found providing service in any way he could.
He was a life-long resident of Craig and Moffat County. He loved this community and he loved his country. Both Lorence and Raeola would agree that a highlight of their lives was serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Saints.
They served for one year in the Lansing Michigan Mission in 1988-1989. For the rest of his life, Lorence often spoke of the wonderful people and cherished experiences they had during that mission. Even when the day-to-day ranch activities had been transferred to his sons, Lorence continued to go the ranch every day.
Retirement just wasn’t in his vocabulary. In 2013, at the age of 89, he suffered a stroke that changed his ability to go to the ranch. But caring for his wife never ceased.
Throughout numerous health challanges for Raeola, Lorence was always more concerned about her care than his own. Lorence was a faithful and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Blanche, and his daughter, Beth Ann.
He is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Raeola, his brother, Philip (Faye) Ellgen, his eight children, Lorna (Richard) Pearce, Maureen (Blake) Rane, Barbara Stephens, Gary (Marti) Ellgen, David (Laura) Ellgen, Ken (Karma) Ellgen, Lynne Williamson, and Larry (Lynae) Ellgen, 36 grandchildren, and 75 great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Lorence Ellgen will be held on Friday, September 28, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Church on 9th and Finley. There will be a viewing on Thursday, September 27, 2018 from 6 pm to 8 pm and Friday, September 28, 2018 prior to the service, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Craig Cemetery.
For information on how to send flowers, please contact the funeral home To send a memorial gift to the family of Lorence Melville Ellgen please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events First Visitation , SEP 27. 06:00 PM – 08:00 PM Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints CO, US Visitation , SEP 28.
09:30 AM – 10:30 AM Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints CO, US Funeral services , SEP 28.
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