Grant Earl Ellegaard, 62, of Fertile, MN, died on Friday, January 23, 2015, at the Riverview Hospital, Crookston, MN.

He was born on March 6, 1952, to Walter and Carol (McArthur) Ellegaard at Crookston, MN.  Grant attended Fertile High School, graduating in 1970.  Following his schooling, Grant owned and operated Chicky's Pizza.  On March 13, 1974, he enlisted into the United States Army, serving as a Military Police officer.  He served in the Panama Canal Zone and throughout the United States.  It was during this time Grant was also involved with the Boy Scouts of America and earned the 1974 Scout Master of the Year award in the canal zone.  Grant was honorably discharged on November 15, 1978.

He returned to Fertile and, in 1976. Grant enrolled at Moorhead State University, Moorhead.  He later transferred to Boise State University, Boise, ID, returning to Fertile.  Grant kept busy working various jobs, before moving to Warroad, MN, and working for Marvin Windows in the early 1990's.  Grant went to training at East Grand Forks Technical College and earned a certificate as an emergency medical technician in 1991. Grant became his father, Walter's, primary caregiver after the passing of his mother, Carol, in 1992.  Grant would take his dad on winter trips to California where he would work for his brother, Eric, at Ellegaard Custom Finishing.  Following his father's passing in 1998, Grant moved to Laguna Beach and worked for Eric full time, using his negotiating skills to keep the company supplied as the work progressed.

After returning to Fertile in the mid 2000's, Grant became an employee of the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen where he managed the Dollar Store at the Manitok Mall and later became the supervisor of the gift shop in the casino. One opportunity Grant looked forward to each year was being Santa Claus on the White Earth Indian reservation and distributing hats and gloves, as well as candy to the children of the area.  Grant's Mini Donuts was his next business endeavor.  He traveled with assistants to regional powwows providing snacks—donuts, hot dogs, candy, and pop.  Grant truly enjoyed working with the young people and meeting new friends.

Grant's life was full of negotiations.  Working out cooperative arrangements that benefited both parties was a joy to Grant.  His generous nature allowed the good things he gained to follow over to those he knew.  Spearing and angling were time well spent for Grant, as he loved to get the fish and, even better, he enjoyed giving the fish to others.  His brother, Eric, and Grant shared a love of cooking and entertaining family and friends-- something they did often.  His Concordia Lutheran Church Family has become very meaningful to him in the last years.  Things we will all remember are Grant's jokes and stories—and, sometimes, they seemed to be the same.

Grant is survived by his sister: Shelly (Mark) Broden, Fertile; brothers: Eric (Joanie), Fertile; and Mark, Fertile; 10 nephews and nieces and 9 great nephews and nieces; and cousins; and his family of dogs: Huckleberry, Scotty, Junior, Kirby, and Scooby.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Bruce 1992, and Barry 2011.

Funeral services will be on Monday, February 2, 2015 , at 11 AM in the Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN.

Visitatio n will be on Saturday, January 31, 2015 , from 2-4 PM with a prayer service at 3:30 PM in the Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home, Fertile, MN.

Burial will be in the Fertile City Cemetery, Fertile, MN.