Melvin Walter Ellinger
Ellinger, Melvin Walter was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 6, 1922
to parents Walter and Katherine (Schwab) Ellinger. He was reborn as a child of
God in the waters of Holy Baptism on February 26, 1922 and confirmed in the
Christian faith on June 7, 1936, at Trinity First Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Minneapolis. Mel was united in holy marriage to Ruth Nanette Ross on July 3,
1948. Mel and Ruth were blessed with 71 years of married life, and with the gift
of three children: Mark, Katherine and Elizabeth. Mel graduated from Concordia
Junior College in 1942, and joined the Army Air Force in 1943. He was deployed
to Italy, serving in the Army Airways Communication division at a bomber base in
the boot heel of southeastern Italy, 1944-45. Following the end of World War II,
he attended Valparaiso University, graduating in 1948 with majors in Sociology
and Business. It was at Valpo that he met the beautiful Ruth Ross, taking her on a
first date to a football game followed by the blockbuster movie “Gone With The
Wind.” After stints working on the Ross family farm near Crookston, MN, then
working for the Department of Agriculture in Minneapolis following a move to
Bloomington, Mel partnered with Mr. Walter Hinck and several others to found
“Master’s Church and School Supply” on 48 th and Chicago in south Minneapolis.
Eventually, Mel became a co-owner of Master’s with Walter’s wife, Verna Hinck.
Mel and Verna managed the operation to become the largest marketer of
Concordia Publishing House church and school supplies in the Minneapolis and
outstate regions. Mel retired in 1987 after 30 years co-owning and managing the
store operations. Mel and Ruth took their kids on numerous camping trips in
Minnesota and the western states, and they themselves traveled to Europe, Hawaii,
Alaska and the Florida Keys. They also enjoyed 20 winters in Panama City Beach,
FL. In 1999, Mel and Ruth moved to Realife, a senior condo complex in
Bloomington, where they lived for 19 years. Mel was a wonderful husband, father
and grandfather, with a gentle but hilarious sense of humor. He spent many hours
in volunteer work for his home congregation, Redemption Lutheran Church, and
for “Bridging,” a Minnesota charity. Following some health issues, Mel and Ruth
moved to an assisted care facility in Plymouth, MN. Ruth entered eternal life in
August of 2019. Likewise, this past Thursday morning, October 27, 2022, God
blessed Mel with a holy death and took him home to rest with Ruth in the arms of
Jesus to await the resurrection of the dead. Mel is survived by his three children
and four grandchildren Sarah, Kristin, Naomi (Sam) and Ellis (Katryna). He is
predeceased by his parents and his sister Elna. Funeral Service at Redemption
Lutheran Church, 927 E. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington, MN on Monday, Nov. 7
at 11:00AM. Visitation 1 hr. prior and luncheon to follow. Memorials preferred to
Redemption Lutheran Church or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
GILLBROTHERS.com (http://www.GILLBROTHERS.com 952-888-7771
Bloomington, MN