Ila Elizabeth Ellingstad, 82, of Eau Claire died Thursday, January 4, 2001 at Luther Hospital. She was born December 24, 1918 to George and Zylphia (Barr) West on her family homestead, near Circle, Montana, in Dawson County. As an infant, Ila returned with her family to the Hixton area in Wisconsin, where she graduated from Hixton High School in 1937. She then attended Minnesota Business College.\r\nIla married Sidney A. Ellingstad Sr. in 1942. While Sidney served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Ila lived in Hixton, where she served as Assistant Postmaster. After Sidney returned from the war in 1945, they moved to Elk Creek Lake, where they raised their family. Sidney died in 1968. In 1979, Ila moved into Eau Claire. From 1971 until retirement in 1984, she worked in the church office at Grace Lutheran Church.\r\nShe was a long-time member of the Chippewa Wildlife Society and the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology, and volunteered as a counter for bird populations. Ila was a member of Beaver Creek Reserve, and a member of the Y.M.C.A. where she swam regularly.\r\nSurvivors include two sons, Vernon (Debra) of Silver Spring, MD, and Sid (Tami) Ellingstad, Jr., of Eau Claire; two daughters, Karen (Fred Triem) Ellingstad of Petersburg, AK; Carol (Mark) Michaelson of LaCrosse; eight grandchildren, Susan (Paul Daggett) Ellingstad, Paul Ellingstad, Alex Hohman, Carole Triem, Dave and Tom Molitor, Alecia and Justin Ellingstad; a great- granddaughter, Emma Daggett; three brothers, Lloyd (Lorraine) and Cecil West, both of Eau Claire, and Lyle (Joyce) West of Hixton; two sisters, Ione (Al) Buczkowski of Delafield, and June Heagney of Clinton.\r\nShe was preceded in death by her husband, Sidney in 1968; a granddaughter, Maureen Triem; and a sister, Irene Solberg.\r\nFuneral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Grace Lutheran Church, with Pastor Rolf A. Nestingen officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery. Friends and relatives may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and an hour prior to services Tuesday at the church.

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