PIERRE, SD – Lorraine (Colby) Ellwein was born on July 14, 1927 in Brockton, Massachusetts to Ed and Nettie (Mickelson) Colby. She died peacefully on February 11, 2024. The family will greet visitors at 10:00 am with a Memorial service at 11:00 am on Monday, February 19, 2024 at Lutheran Memorial Church in Pierre.

After graduating from Mitchell High School, Lorraine attended business school and was hired by Northwestern Bell telephone company. On September 11, 1946, she married Philip Ellwein in Mitchell and moved to Pierre. Together they owned and operated the Coca Cola Bottling Company until 1980 when they sold the company and retired.

Lorraine enjoyed modeling for various retail clothing establishments in Pierre. She was also an avid golfer and excelled at bowling. She looked forward to her monthly bridge parties and her yearly Christmas parties. Oh how she loved to decorate her house for Christmas with all her pictures and Santas!

For many years Lorraine volunteered at St Mary’s Hospital delivering mail, and at the South Dakota Historical Center, where her granddaughters would love to go with her and run the cash register. She was an excellent docent at the state capitol and made even more good friends as a volunteer there. To enter Lorraine’s home was to be invited to sit down, have a cup of coffee and eat a baked good – she was famous for her cookies, cakes and pies. Lorraine loved to read and later in life when her eyes failed her she started listening to audio books.

Lorraine’s favorite activity was spending time with her family and friends, and spent many a day traveling to games and events to see her children and grandchildren. Few days went by without friends stopping in, or a chat with a loved one on the phone.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister, brother, Ellwein sisters in law and brothers in law . She is survived by her 4 children David (Norma) Ellwein, Stephen (Shirley) Ellwein, Kathryn Ann (John) Harris and Peggy Ellwein (Brian Wickman), 8 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, many beloved nieces and nephews, bonus Wickman and Feickert families.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Lutheran Memorial Church. Cards may be sent to the Ellwein Family, 115 N. Nicollet Ave., Apt. A, Pierre, SD 57501

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