Orpha Ellefson

Orpha Ellefson, 99, of Charles City, died Friday, October 16, 2009 at Cedar Health in Charles City.

A funeral service will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church, 705 3rd Ave. in Charles City on Saturday, October 24 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Jane Keel officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at 1 p.m. in the Osage Cemetery. Stories, thoughts and condolences may be shared with the family on the funeral home website at www.Fullertonfh.com. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Orpha was born on April 20, 1910 in Monona, Iowa, the daughter of Robert and Eunice (Jenkins) Flack. She was united in marriage to Sigvart Ellefson on April 14, 1927 at the Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in Dalby, Iowa. She and her family lived in Osage from the mid 1930’s until her husband’s death in 1967, after which she moved to Charles City. Orpha had worked at the Cedar Valley Egg Plant in Osage during World War II, the Osage North End Grocery, Helen’s Dress Shop in Osage, and the South Side Supermarket in Charles City.

Orpha was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage and the Messiah Lutheran Church in Charles City. She loved to crochet, cook and do canning. Most of all she enjoyed all of her family whom she would help in any way.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Gloria Skuster and Shirley Guthart, both of Charles City; grandchildren, John (Chris) Guthart of Charles City, Vicky (Mark) Holler of Estes Park, CO, Dan Guthart of Charles City, Eric (Patty) Skuster of Waverly, David (Janis) Skuster of Stewartville, MN, Paul (Ann) Skuster of Charles City, Timothy (Denise) Skuster and William (Sally) Skuster of Salt Lake City, UT; 15 great grandchildren; 9 great great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Orpha was preceded in death by her husband; parents; infant son, John Robert; 3 sisters; 2 brothers; three great grandchildren, Kelsey Skuster, Sarah Skuster and Tiffany Guthart Turpen; and 2 sons-in-law, Jack Guthart and Gordon Skuster.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 401 Blunt Street, Charles City, IA. (641) 228-4211. www.fullertonfh.com