Ellen G. Whiteis, 89

Published 4:12 pm Saturday, March 5, 2011

Ellen Witeis

Ellen George Whiteis, 89, of Austin, died March 4, 2011, at St. Marks Lutheran Home in Austin.

Ellen was born July 24, 1921, at Austin, the daughter of George Christopher and Martha Dora (Cummings) Kokenougles. She attended Austin High School and was married to Obert Hartwik Whiteis on Sept. 8, 1946, in Austin. Ellen was a homemaker and a member of Christ Episcopal Church where she sang in the choir and was a member of the church guild. She enjoyed a number of hobbies, including reading, dancing, music, fishing trips and road trips.

Ellen was preceded in death by two sons, George and Paul Whiteis; parents, George and Martha Kokenougles; sister, Feliao Kokenougles; brother, Paul Kokenougles and brother-in-law LeRoy Sigstad.

She is survived by her husband: Obert H. Whiteis, Austin; children: Suzanne Wilson and Dale Hofius, Blooming Prairie, Martha and Thomas Larsen, Byron, Michael and Marilyn Whiteis, Sioux Falls; daughter-in-law: Margie Jacobson, Austin; grandchildren: Thomas Wilson, Sarah Ball, Amy DeVries, Tammy Julius, Melissa Bonnes, Robert Whiteis, Emily Hamilton, Alex Whiteis, Jason Larsen and Andrea Squier; 16 great-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren; sister, Marie Sigstad of Austin, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m. at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary Chapel on Tuesday, March 8 with the Reverend Pam Aandahl Solberg officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call for one hour before the service on Tuesday. Casket bearers will be Thomas Wilson, Alex Whiteis, Jason Larsen, Austin Kuhnert, Evan Kuhnert and Jaden Julius.