Donna Cecelia Ellyson

Donna C. Ellyson, 85, of Sioux City passed away Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, at a local nursing home.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Donna was born on July 15, 1929, in Sioux City, to Claus and Elsie (Christensen) Clausen. She graduated from East High School in 1947. She spent her life in Sioux City and had lived in the same house for more than 60 years. Donna worked as a secretary in the dialysis unit at Marian Health Center for 15 years. She was also employed at Zenith and Kraft Foods.
She was united in marriage to Lawrence "Sam" Ellyson on Oct. 6, 1979, in Sioux City. He preceded her in death in 2004.
Donna was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and enjoyed traveling, crafts, and gardening.
Those left to honor her memory include her children, Gloria (Jerry) Ritchie of North Liberty, Iowa, Gregg (Clydene Briggs) Jessip of Omaha, Larry Jessip of Sioux City, and Betsy Surber of Sioux City; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brothers, Gail (Lucy Mae) Clausen, Richard Clausen, Larry (Dorothy) Clausen, and Darrell (Vesta) Clausen; sisters-in-law, Marge Clausen, Bernice Clausen, and Jane Cochran; brother-in-law, Marvin (Marion) Ellyson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents; infant son, Chuckie; husband; and brothers, Bernard, Royle, and Arnold Clausen.