Don Howard Ellefsen

Friday, Oct. 31, 2014

Salt lake city — Donald Howard Ellefsen, 84, passed away Oct. 23, 2014. 

Ellefsen was born in Los Angeles, Calif., to Elias J. and Lou Ellefsen. He married Kathleen Youngdell on Sept. 18, 1953, in Elko, Nev. 

Ellefsen joined the U.S. Navy, where he served four years during the Korean War aboard the USS Leonard F. Mason. He earned many medals and service ribbons. 

He worked as an electrician with Yates and Skyline Electric and earned the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 50-year service award. 

A founding member of the Catholic Committee on Scouting, Great Salt Lake Council, he was appointed by Bishop Joseph Lennox Federal as Diocesan Chairman of Catholic Scouting in 1976 and held many posts, both locally and nationally.  

Ellefsen is survived by children Terri (Allen) Swain, Gary (Mary Stewart) Ellefsen, Lisa (Randy) King, Joni (Kurt) Konschott, Suzanne (Michael) Wahls, Kathryn (Rick) Wretberg, and Eric (Deaine) Ellefsen; 17 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; brothers Jack Ellefsen and Jerry (Jeanette) Ellefsen; and sister-in-law Pat McCollin. 

Ellefsen was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy. 

A funeral Mass was celebrated at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.