John Lellelid, 73, passed away Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at the Golden Living Center in Madison, SD. He was born February 21, 1939 in Madison, SD to Helga and Gust Lellelid of Colman, SD. They were both raised in Norway, their native land, in the Hardanger region and Tydal. John graduated from Colman High School in 1957 and then went to SDSU in Physics Engineering with a break to sail to Norway with his dad. John enjoyed his parent's native land and made many friends over there. He returned to South Dakota to finish his education and graduated in 1962. Later John returned and was an instructor in General Engineering where he taught Engineering Graphics for eight years at SDSU. John obtained Master's Degrees in science and science education. He completed the teaching block at USD and taught at Hartford, SD, O'Gorman in Sioux Falls, St. Andrews Priory in Honolulu and in Gettysburg, SD. He was employed by General Electric in Arizona, the Man Space Center in Texas (Lockhead) and had an office job for the Navy at Pearl Harbor. John married Ella Jean Wilkinson at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on September 14, 1974 in Honolulu, HI where they lived for five years before moving to Colman, SD. The couple was married 38 years. John attended Sioux Technical Institute and got a degree there in electronics. He traveled as much as possible in Europe, Hawaii and on Amtrak to Oregon. John liked taking an art course and visiting in Sweden at a hostel as recently as September 25, 2012. He was an amateur extra ham radio operator with call-letters KAØDEZ and made contacts with his best friends, Will Gravning and boyhood friend Karl Lee. He was a member of the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club.

John is survived by his wife Ella Jean, sister Jan Halvorsen, Morgan Hill, CA, nephew Chris, Fremont, CA, cousin Dave Huebner, Bushnell, SD, brother-in-law Bill (Jane) Wilkenson, Lake Oswego, OR, two nephews, Jay and Clark, many cousins in Norway and many other friends. He had two dachshunds, Long-John and Coco who he loved. John was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Bruce Halvorsen and many aunts, uncles and cousins from many areas.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Monday, February 4, 2013 at Colman Lutheran Church with burial in the Colman Cemetery. Visitation begins one hour before the service at the church.