Leo Ellingson

Leo D. Ellingson, 84, of Great Falls, a World War II Army Air Force veteran and former business owner, died of natural causes Friday, Nov. 11, at a local hospital.His memorial service is 10 a.m. Monday at Hillcrest Lawn Chapel. Schnider Funeral Home is handling thearrangements.Leo Ellingson was born April 25, 1927, in Rolette County, N.D., a son of Max and Nita (Smith) Marcil. He was raised in northeast Montana and attended school there. He graduated from Glasgow High School in 1945, then attended Minneapolis School of Business, in business administration, and Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis. Leo enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1945 and served in Japan and Hawaii, separating in 1946. He began his employment in 1948 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service, working at the Charles Russell Game Range and Glacier National Park. He also worked in Sioux Falls, S.D., as a staff announcer. In 1956, he was employed as radio and program director at KFBB radio in Great Falls. On August 31, 1957, he married Martha M. Langenfeld. Leo and Marti had five sons, all of whom are grown and gave Leo the basis for his statement, All of my kids turned out great! Leo became the USO area director in Great Falls in 1961, starting an extensive traveling career as regional executive. From Great Falls, he relocated to Bordeaux, France; Fairbanks, Alaska; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Memphis, Tenn.; Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. and, as National USO Director in charge of United Way Relations, back to Great Falls. He terminated his career with the USO in 1977. In Great Falls, he became owner and president of Pacific Advertising Specialties. He sold the firm in 1987. He was president of Great Falls Rotary, finance director for Ron Stephens' Gubernatorial Campaign, Montana Centennial director, campaign manager for Allen Kolstad for U.S. Senate and was a board member of the Lewis and Clark Center Fund, Inc., from its inception. Leo is survived by his sons, Gary (Em) Ellingson of Helena, Thomas (Sherry) Ellingson of Brandon, Miss., Eric Ellingson of Great Falls, Andre' Ellingson of Calabases, Calif., and David Ellingson and wife, Mitzi of Idaho Falls, Idaho; brothers Donald Ellingson of Moorhead, Minn., Rodney Ellingson of Pelican Rapids, Minn., and Jack Marcil of Fargo, N.D.; his sisters, Shirley Ralston of Pelican Rapids, Minn., and Marlene Phillips of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and six grandchildren, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Kale, Katelyn, Erin and Bree. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Marti Ellingson on March 12, 2009, and his parents. Memorials are suggested to Great Falls Central Catholic High School, 2800 18th Ave. S., Great Falls, MT 59405-5160 or USO, PO Box 96322, Washington, DC 20090-6322.