Rodney Lewis Ellefson, son of Lewis and Alice (Schurmann) Ellefson, was born May 22, 1931 at Garretson, South Dakota. He grew up there and graduated from Garretson High School at age 17. He worked as a farm hand after graduation and then worked at John Morrell and Company until 1952 when he entered the U.S. Army and served in Panama during the Korean War. He was united in marriage to Pauline Hoven on June 18, 1952 in Luverne, Minnesota. "Doc" entered the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine in 1955 and graduated in 1961. They moved to Estelline in 1961 and opened his veterinary practice, serving the community for 30 years. He worked at Pfizer Pharmaceutical and the diagnostic research lab at SDSU following his retirement from private practice. He and Pauline moved to Watertown in 2011. "Doc" died on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown at the age of 80 years. He was involved in many organizations in the Estelline Community including the American Legion, Athletic Officer for American Legion Baseball, Lions Club, Trinity Lutheran Church Board, Estelline City Council, Estelline Volunteer Fire Department and was also a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Doc enjoyed golf and was an avid hunter and fisherman, enjoying his yearly fishing trip to Canada. He was also an avid Minnesota Gophers, Twins and Vikings fan. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Pauline of Watertown; one son Brian and his wife Julie of Waterford, WI; four daughters, Cynthia Hennings and her husband Daryl of Payson, AZ, Julie Mjelde and her husband Jim of Elkhorn, NE, Jill Rossman and her husband Les of Watertown, Peggy Koch and her husband Brian of Owatonna, MN; ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren, Darcy Hempel and her husband Joel and their son Parker of Prior Lake, MN, Marissa Grefe and her husband Blake of Shakopee, MN, Jeremy Morgan and his wife Erin and their sons Lukas and Cade of Brandon, SD, Jessica Morgan and her fiance Greg Watton and their daughter Ava of Newport Beach, CA, Jennifer Morgan of Sioux Falls, SD, Kaley Pedersen and her husband Justin of Mesa, AZ, Joshua Rossman and his wife Annie and their children Emmi and Owen of Phoenix, AZ, Nicholas Rossman and his wife Roshal of Milbank, SD, Whitney Rossman of Watertown, Abby Koch of Owatonna, MN; three step grandchildren and six step great grandchildren, Michelle (Hennings) and Lauren Stowell and their children, Hunter and Hayley of Eau Claire, WI, Tara (Hennings) and Andy Hanisch and their daughter Joslynn of Lennox, SD, Sara (Mjelde) and Eric Myhre and their children Cole, Madisen and Hudson of Sheyenne, ND; three brothers, Leonard of Garretson, SD, Lloyd of Norman, OK, Perry and his wife Helen of Mission, TX; and a host of other relatives and friends. Doc was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Elmer and Ted; three sisters, Margaret Tarpley, Shirley Burkey, Irene Kuss; and a step grandson Anthony Hennings. His funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Thursday, April 12, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Estelline. Visitation will be 4PM to 7PM Wednesday at Geise Funeral Home in Estelline. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed in Rod's name to the Estelline American Legion or a charity of your choice.