Founder of Catholic Scouting in the Utah is laid to rest

Friday, Nov. 07, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — Honor, courage, love and commitment to country, community, Church, family and friends was how Don Ellefsen was remembered at a funeral Mass Oct. 28 at Saint Vincent de Paul, where he and his family were members.

Ellefsen passed away Oct. 23 at the age of 84.

The funeral Mass for Ellefsen was concelebrated by Father John Norman, pastor; Father James Blaine, Diocese of Salt Lake City Scout chaplain and Region 13 chaplain emeritus of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, and pastor of Saint Peter Parish; and Father Arthur Nave, Region 13 chaplain of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting from the Diocese of Phoenix. 

In his homily, Fr. Norman said Ellefsen was placed in what was and continues to be an important spot for the Ellefsen family, just below the altar. “It is a place of prayer, celebration and strength,” he said. “He gave out many Scouting awards and made announcements from that spot; he was an usher for more than 40 years. … His particular commitment was how he could make faith and Scouting work so well together, and to the religious awards in both the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts he handed out at ceremonies at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.”

Ellefsen was a Boy Scout, an Explorer Scout and attained the rank of Life; he earned a 50-year Scouting Award in 2009. His 58-year career in Scouting began when he helped organize a troop at Saint Ann Parish in 1962 when his oldest son became a scout. In 1967, he organized a Scouting program and was Cub master for more than 30 years at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, said Pam Grant, who took over the diocesan Scouting program when Ellefsen stepped down. 

Ellefsen was a founding member of the Catholic Committee on Scouting, Great Salt Lake Council in 1965 and he served as chairman or board member through 2011. He was Region 13 chairman of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting from 1989 to 2012. 

Some of the many Council awards he received for his Scouting leadership were the District Merit Award, 1966; Scouter Key and Scouter Training Awards, 1967; Bronze Pelican in the 1960s, Saint George Award, 1971; Silver Beaver in 1974; and Silver St. George Medal from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting in 2008.

“Today the Pinewood Derby track at St. Vincent de Paul Parish is named in tribute to Ellefsen,” said Grant. “He served as district president of Bonnet Ball and coached four of his daughters in softball. When he saw an inequity of playing fields available to female players in the 1970s, he created the Cottonwood Softball Complex. As chairman of the Catholic Committee on Scouting, Don implemented the yearly Campout for Catholic Scouters, and oversaw it for more than 35 years.”

People like Ellefsen make Scouting possible, Fr. Nave said. “The most important thing to remember about Don is his dedicated lay leadership and the importance of his role in scouting,” he said. 

Tony Madonia, who came from Phoenix to attend Ellefsen’s funeral, was the Scouting chairman in 1994 when he met Ellefsen. “He was always very efficient and easy to work with,” he said.

Before Fr. Blaine became a priest, he met Ellefsen, he said. “I could go on forever talking about all the trips we took to attend meetings. I remember a trip in Buffalo, N.Y., where Don spent about three hours touring a ship he saw that was exactly the same kind he served on in the Navy. Don was a very dedicated man in whatever he did; his whole life was one of service.”

Ellefsen’s participation in the Sea Scouts and sailing aboard the SS Bonneville inspired him to join the U.S. Navy, where he served from 1947 to 1950; he achieved the rank of Electrician’s Mate Third Class, which later led to his career as a master electrician. He earned the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 50-year service award. 

“Don was the face of Scouting in Utah; he was the consummate father and family man,” said Grant. “I consider him a second father and I will miss him every day.”