Violet Bertha Doris 'Vi' Ellingsberg

Violet Bertha Doris (Breitbarth) "Vi" Ellingsberg was born on April 21, 1928, to Emil and Louise (Brummond) Breitbarth in Pleasant Mound Township near Truman, MN. She grew up on the family farm with her four siblings and at the age of nine was separated from them due to the illness of her mother. Her siblings were taken to the Owatonna Orphanage. Vi was reunited with her sister Valeen a few months later. Their mother Louise passed away at the age of 38 on December 17, 1938. Vi had made a promise to her mother that she would find her other siblings, she successfully located them by the late 1940s. On May 28, 1948, Violet was united in marriage to Albert "Abe" Ellingsberg at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madelia, MN. Vi held numerous jobs that included waitressing, cooking, working as an Election judge and lastly being a curator at the Watonwan County Historical Society. She loved to travel and went to Hawaii, Alaska, and spent many of her last years wintering in Arizona. Her favorite job was that of wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Vi loved to write. She wrote long personal letters to family members and friends, short stories about her life, and kept a diary for 77 years. Vi loved gardening and was a member of the U of MN Extension Club. She loved drawing and painting and drew each and every donated item at the Historical Center. Genealogy and tracking the Ellingsberg/Hole family and also the Brummond/Breitbarth families was a passion. She and Abe were wood carvers and attended many carving classes, events and groups. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church, Antrim. As a dedicated member of Trinity Lutheran Church, she taught Sunday School and was a member of the Lydia circle for many years. Her faith and family were very important to her. Violet Bertha Doris (Breitbarth) Ellingsberg, age 94, formerly of Madelia, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2022, at the Episcopal Church Home, St. Paul, MN. Vi is survived by her children, Carol (Jack Kachmarek) Ellingsberg, St. Paul, David (Sharon) Ellingsberg, New Ulm, Gay Ellingsberg (Tom LaDouceur) of Minneapolis, Yvette (Michael) Ellingsberg-Hennies of Big Lake; nine grandchildren, Eric (Tessa Achman) Ellingsberg, Kyle (Catie) Ellingsberg, Nathan (Cherise) Ellingsberg, Camille (Chadd) Romanowicz, Tyson (Mary) Schnitker, Callie (Ben Willenbring) Schnitker, August (Lauren) Hennies, Forrest (Sarah) Hennies, and Danielle Hennies; great-grandchildren include: Phoenix, Lucas, Lucy, Henry, Ophelia, Oliver, Beau, Malia, Aiden, Leighton and Lillianna. Vi was preceded in death by her mother Louise, her husband Albert and son Daniel; sisters Valeen Altenburg and Darlene Meisch, and brothers Dale and Marlon Breitbarth. Visitation 1 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Wednesday, August 31, 2022 Trinity Lutheran Church-Madelia 406 W. Main St. Madelia, Minnesota, United States 56062 Service Information 2:00 pm Wednesday, August 31, 2022 Trinity Lutheran Church-Madelia 406 W. Main St. Madelia, Minnesota, United States 56062 Interment Information Riverside Cemetery, Madelia East, Co. Hwy 3, Flanders Ave. Madelia, Minnesota, United States 56062 Reception A time of fellowship and refreshments will take place in the church social hall immediately following interment.