Service Information
Ellsworth E. Lorentzen, age 91, of Hutchinson, passed away on Friday, October 20, 2023, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson, Minnesota.
Private Graveside Service will be held at a later date in Beckville Lutheran Cemetery in rural Litchfield, Greenleaf Township, Minnesota.
Obituary
Ellsworth Elling Lorentzen, the son of Lemuel and Marie Lorentzen, was born June 8, 1932 in Powers Lake, North Dakota. Shortly after he graduated from high school, his family moved to Greeley, Colorado, where he attended the University of Northern Colorado, earning a teaching degree.
While attending college, he worked as an orderly in a hospital where he met Dolores who was a nurse. They were married on June 19, 1954 at Beckville Lutheran Church, Dolores’ childhood church, near Litchfield. Early on in his career, Ellsworth taught at several schools in western states. One of his first teaching jobs was in Akron, Colorado, where their son, Mark, was born. Another teaching job took them to Glasgow, Montana where their daughter, Mary, was born. In 1961, Ellsworth started teaching 9th grade physical science at the newly opened Hutchinson High School. After retiring in 1995, he enjoyed traveling with Dolores and tending to his hobby farm near Litchfield.
Ellsworth passed away on October 20, 2023 at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson. Blessed be is memory.
Ellsworth is survived by his:
Son, Mark Lorentzen, of Litchfield, MN;
Daughter, Mary Miller and her husband, Tom, of Flagstaff, AZ;
Brothers, Keith Lorentzen and his wife, Toozie of North Dakota,
Weston Lorentzen and his wife, Becky, of California;
Many other relatives and Friends.
He was preceded in death by his Wife, Dolores; Parents, Lemuel and Marie Lorentzen; Brother, Lyman Lorentzen; Sister, Janice Lorentzen.
Jolene K Smith says
Uncle Ells will be greatly missed. He was always a fun person to have around at family events. It was nice to be able to meet with him and Dolores at their residences in their later lives. Our deepest condolences to Mark and Mary. We love you Ells.
Mark L Santelman says
RIP Mr. Lorentzen
You were a kind human being.
Mark Santelman (Class of ’76)
Maryann Knoss Schultz says
Ellsworth was a wonderful friend to my dad. Many days of mall walking! My deepest sympathy!
Karen Mackenthun says
Mary
Sorry to hear about your dad. My sympathy to you and your brother.
It was nice getting to see you while you were here visiting your dad.
Marsha Schmit says
Lorentzen family, we are so sorry to hear of Ellsworth’s death. He was one of my teachers and we always spoke of that even when I saw him last Tuesday. May God bless you…Marsha Schmit, Faith Lutheran Church
Kent D Summerfield says
Ellsworth was one of the kindest people I have ever known in my life! Never had a bad word to say about anybody. He was an excellent teacher and tried his very best to help each student that would ask him. My dad and older brother Tom and myself would ride to school with him almost every morning whether he drove or we drove. So we certainly got to know him in a very special way! The world was certainly a better place to have such a very fine gentleman! May God bless and comfort you all at this difficult time! Regards Kent Douglas Summerfield
Mark Santelman says
Thank you for sharing that Kent. Your unique opportunity to see Mr. Lorentzen in a way that none of the rest of us did confirmed what we all knew…he was a genuinely kind and nice man.
Ellsworth got frustrated with me once during a 9th grade lab and when I saw his reaction to me, I swore I would never do anything to disappoint him again because of my profound respect for him. It really was a seminal moment for me.
Hopefully the family takes comfort in knowing that many students are saddened by his passing.
May the Lord bless you and keep the Lorentzen family, Mark Santelman
Jeff and Kelly Johnson says
Mark and Mary – you have our deepest sympathies on the loss of your dad. We have so many great memories of him and your mom over the years at the cabin for the 4th of July, trips to Itasca, the Wiener roasts at the farm and others. He had such a great sense of humor and always made us smile. We will miss him dearly.
Karen Drahos says
Mark and Mary,
Sorry for your loss. Your dad was a very good teacher and neighbor. I know my parents enjoyed spending time with your mom and dad.
Matthew Lorentzen says
Uncle Ells was such a wonderful uncle! Someone to look up to. Uff-da in the best way possible. I’ll always wish I had more time with him and Aunt Delores over the years but the physical distance did not allow that. I’m so glad he and Delores made the drive up to Black Pine when I was there with Pop and Mark. Of course I’ll always remember showing them around Yosemite NP when I worked there also. But best of all has been Mark telling me how fondly Uncle Ells was speaking of his salvation by Christ. AMEN!