Ellen Hawes obituary

Ellen Mae Hawes, 80, of Brandon, South Dakota died unexpectedly on January 6, 2026. She was born on March 23, 1945, to George and Mary (Jamison) Hawes at Kelly Field military base, behind the Alamo. They then relocated to San Antonio, Texas. She grew up in Ellsworth, Wisconsin where she graduated. Not long after, Ellen married and had five children, Yvette, Jole, Loy, Kully, and Trepp, who she raised in Lake City, Minnesota. She eventually settled in the Sioux Falls/Brandon, South Dakota area. This is where she met the love of her, life Jim (James) Kranz Hawes. She was an apartment manager for a time and worked at Walmart. She was also a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Sioux Falls. She enjoyed playing card games, traveling with her late husband, reading, eating at one of her favorite spots, The Frying Pan, and spending time with family, friends and neighbors. Ellen also had quite the green thumb; she would scour the clearance section for the deadest flowers, ask for a larger discount, bring them home, and “voila,” get them growing again.
Ellen was blessed in finding a very close and special friendship with Mavis Hawkins from her church.
Ellen is survived by her children, Yvette of Red Wing, Minn., Jole (Brad) Gilles of Lake City, Minn., Loy (Bob) Palma of Farmington, Minn. and Trepp (Sarah) Meyer of Cannon Falls, Minn.; nine grandchildren, Bryan (Shannon) Kern, Keegan Kern, Nathan Gilles, Austin (Bailey) Gilles, Alexandra (Alexander) Schmidt, Tyler Palma, Micah Palma, Jewels Meyer, and Gavin Weitzel; and five great-grandchildren, Ares, Archer, Macson, Mavrick, and Miles. She is also survived by her nephews Drew Sobaski, John Sobaski, and ex-brother-in- law Darrel Sobaski.
Ellen is preceded in death by her son, Kully Meyer; her parents; and sisters Clara Sobaski and Delna Hawes. A memorial service will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Sioux Falls. There will be cookies and punch served after.
Ellen will be placed in her nal resting spot with her late husband Jim at Fort Snelling in Saint Paul, Minn. at a later date.
Memorials preferred to the family or her church.