Dan Ellefson, age 65, of Isanti died unexpectedly at home February 22, 2022. A celebration of life will be held at Buck Hill (Burnsville, MN) on April 26, 2022 (6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.).
Dan E. Ellefson (Isanti, MN), age 65, passed away at home on February 22, 2022. Dan was a lifelong artist, a skilled carpenter, a boat builder, an athlete, a collector, an inventor, and an intrepid traveler. Dan was a competitive ski-jumper in high school and participated in the U.S. Nationals. A gifted painter, he created an amazing collection of paintings: DAN ELLEFSON (crevado.com). Dan is survived by his mother, Alda Ellefson (Lloyd Ellefson, deceased); his daughter with Tore Griffin, Karianna O. Ellefson, and siblings, Jenny Riemenschneider (Jack Riemenschneider); Jack Ellefson (Anne Ellefson); Emily Kort; Mark Ellefson; Steve Ellefson (Phyllis Ellefson), and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held at Buck Hill (Burnsville, MN) on April 26, 2022 (6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.).
I cannot believe he is gone. I have never met a character like Dan who was so passionate about life. He would give you joy, love and his last dollar. Denny and I will always miss you, Dan. Till we meet again…
Dan was beloved in the ski jumping family, a gentile way about him loving life he will be missed by many!
Rest in Peace Brother – Prayers to all who are grieving this all too soon loss💔
Cousin Dan,
I hope you paint the Heavens with your smile and personality. I am going to miss you at all the family gatherings.
Dan the Man 😎
If you were able to have met him you likely couldn’t forget him!
The creative, compassionate, sometimes cantankerous character he embodies has spread across the globe 🌍
Thank you Dan for gifting us to remember be authentically yourself in this world it needs our unique expression.
I especially loved his simplicity in living and ways he repurposed anything and everything! He lived by experimenting.
Blessings to all the family at this time of transition and integration. 🙏🏻
Elda & family, we are so sorry for your loss. Dan was quite a character & he & Mark found lots of mischief together. He will be missed. We do not have current phone numbers for any of you, or we would have called. God Bless, Mark & Laurie Fontaine
I’m so terribly sorry for the loss of Dan we lived across the street for years . All the sweet and innocent games we are used to play as young kids in the neighborhood. The sticker fight and much more . Sorry again sincerely
Mary jo Fontaine miller
Oh, Dan,
We will miss you! Of all my cousins, I couldn’t really say he was my favorite, but he was unforgettable. When we were kids, we didn’t get together all that often. We were on a farm in ND and the Ellefson’s were in Minneapolis. But when we did get together, it seemed like Dan and I would just pick up where we left off last time. Maybe he was like that with everyone – that’s why he was so loved.
As an adult, I moved a lot. And I would get a visit from Dan, usually without letting me know ahead of time. I think he liked being a surprise! He just showed up one Saturday morning when I was living in Elko, NV. Kandy (my sister) and her new husband were back in ND to attend their wedding reception there. I asked Dan where he came from and he said that he had slept on the train tracks. To me it sounded like a strange story, but knowing Dan it probably was possible. At any rate, that night I gave him my bed to sleep in. (I took the couch).
I didn’t care for Elko’s desert scenery at the time, because I was mostly in an office all day. We drove up to Lamoille Canyon (the foothills of the Rockies) that day, because I knew Dan would appreciate the scenery. He took lots of photos and he said he had no idea it would be so beautiful there.
Dan also visited me on Long Island, NY too. We took a train into New York City and saw Times Square, Central Park, Empire State Building and Museum of Modern Art. I tried to show him the beauty of the city also.
Until Dan’s obituary was out, I had not seen his artwork. Boy, was I blown away! So much talent. He found his outlet for all that beauty he must have come across on all of his journeys around the globe.
He will be truly missed. But I know in my heart, that he has moved on to a place that is even more beautiful!
Love ya, Sandy (Nelson) Haaland
Miss you
April 19th, 2022
Alda and family,
I just heard about this today and I am in shock. I am so sorry ! I wish I could give you all hugs. I always felt we had a connection with our artistic abilities. He was a much better artist than me and when I saw his art, I so appreciated all his talent. Dan would always make us laugh and smile. Part of me wished I was like him. Such a free spirit!
Hugs to all. Love you, Lori (Neset) Von Holdt
Dear Alda and family,
I just learned of Dan’s passing today, on his birthday. We had lost touch, but I always loved him – from the first time I saw him at the Bush Lake ski jump when I was only 15. I’m so happy we had a chance to reconnect as adults when I came to MN for a visit several years ago. Alda, you cupped my face in your hand and patted my cheek and told me I was still the same. It was so sweet and wonderful, like having a moment with my own mom again. Dan was certainly a unique and interesting person. I loved his creativity, his vision and determination. I loved his huge beautiful smile and blue eyes. When we caught up with each other after all those years, it was wonderful. Even though we were both white haired and wrinkled, he made me feel like a young girl again. During my teen years, you all were like family to me and I have held a special place in my heart for all of you. I am so sad to learn of Dan’s unexpected passing and offer my condolences to all of you.🙏❤