Ellis Charles Basel, 91, Union Center, died Friday, July 7, 2006 at the Sturgis Regional Hospital.

Ellis was born June 30, 1915 near Lamberton, MN, to Walter and Minnie (Tonak) Basel. They moved to Agar, South Dakota in 1921 when he was a small boy. Ellis graduated from Agar High School in 1934 and lettered in basketball.

In 1936 the family moved to Goodwin, SD, where he continued to farm with his parents.

On August 16, 1952, he was united in marriage to Arlis Roe at the Lutheran Church in Goodwin. In September of that year they moved to a ranch near Union Center, SD, where they lived for the next 54 years.

Ellis helped in the organization of the Farmers Union Oil Company in Union Center. He was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis and helped serve pancakes during the annual motorcycle rally. Ellis was a member of Farmers Union in Meade County and involved on the state level. He also was a 4-H leader for many years.

Survivors include his wife Arlis Basel, Union Center; one son, Dallis and his wife Tammy Basel, Fairpoint; one daughter Janis and her husband Ole Olson, Sturgis; grandchildren, Ryan LaMont, Chadron, NE, Marshall LaMont, Buffalo, WY, Kelly Olson, Lead, Levi Olson, Belle Fourche; two great grandchildren, Ashtynn Gibson, Lead, Sophie Olson, Watford City, ND; also several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister and brother in law, Georgia and Bernard Kastner.

Funeral services at the Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis with burial at the Bear Butte Cemetery