FAIRMONT — Funeral services for Ellis E. Saxton, 91, of Fairmont, Minn., will be 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, at United Methodist Church in Fairmont. Immediately following the service, military honors by the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post 36 and Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1222 will be held outside the church.

Visitation will be 9-11 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be in Fairview Memorial Park Cemetery, Fairmont.

Ellis passed away Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, at Lakeview Methodist Care Center in Fairmont.

Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Ellis E. Saxton was born March 3, 1928 in Seneca, Kossuth County, Iowa, to Lawrence and Zelda (Osborne) Saxton. He was the oldest brother to Shirley (Little) and Richard and, in times of need, to Ralph Saxton, Willis Saxton and Meryl Neubert. Ellis attended District 105 County School and graduated from Fairmont High School in 1946.

He married his high school sweetheart, Arlene Lidke, on Dec. 26, 1946. They shared almost 73 years together, working, traveling, raising their children and enjoying their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ellis served his beloved country in the U.S. Army in Germany in World War II from 1946 to 1948. He was called back for service during the Korean Conflict from 1950-1952. In 1973, he joined the Minnesota Army National Guard and served as a civilian soldier until his retirement in 1989. After the war, Ellis was very active in the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Fairmont. He served as commander of Post 36 and he continued his service to country as an honor guard member to the end.

Ellis was hired by Bill Mickelson at the Fairmont Sentinel newspaper after his second discharge from the Army. He worked as circulation manager and, at one time, had over 120 carriers delivering papers in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. During that time, daily circulation increased from 5,000 to 14,025. He then moved to the advertising department, where he worked until his retirement in 1982. Ellis also worked as a tour guide for Travel Fun Tours, a subsidiary of the Sentinel, for 50 years.

Ellis was always willing to volunteer his time and service. He was a volunteer EMT with the Fairmont Ambulance Service for 11 years. He served as a 4-H adult leader for 25 years. He was a tour bus escort for the City of Fairmont and a volunteer at Heritage Acres. He most loved the work he did for the United Methodist Church, where he was a member most of his life. For all this service, Ellis was a recipient of Outstanding Senior Citizen of Martin County and the Book of Deeds Award. After a life of love for family, work, country and God, his footprints will always remain for others to follow.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Arlene of Fairmont, Minn.; children Susan Beyer (William) of North Mankato, Minn., Bruce (Dale) of Fairmont, Dennis (Lynne) of North St. Paul, Minn., and Dawn Peymann (Thomas) of North Mankato, Minn.; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Shirley Little of Faribault, Minn.; brother, Richard (Crystal) of Fairmont; brother-in-law, Rev. Norman Lidke of Apple Valley, Minn.; sister-in-law, LeaAnn McDonald of Fairmont; many nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given in Ellis’ name to Heritage Acres in Fairmont and United Methodist Church of Fairmont Building Fund.

www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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