Ann Ellenson, known in high school as Anna Mae Berg, graduated from Moorhead High School in 1954. While at Moorhead High, she was involved in music, journalism, drama, Science Club and the National Honor Society. Ellenson graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in business education and psychology. She completed the coursework toward an advanced degree in counseling through North Dakota State University.

From 1966-81 Ellenson taught in the business department at Moorhead Area Vocational Technical Institute, now Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Moorhead. She developed a human relations curriculum and wrote a textbook, “Human Relations,” in 1973, with a second edition published in 1980. During that time, Ellenson was a member of campus committees fostering non-traditional career awareness and gender equity. From 1980 until she retired in 1995, Ellenson co-owned Fevig Insurance Agency in Moorhead and was a licensed agent and producer for commercial lines.

Ellenson’s involvement in the community included serving on the Moorhead Area Chamber of Commerce board and various Chamber committees, including Business Development, Leadership Moorhead, Retail Services, Committee for the ’90s, Legislative and Long Range Planning. She was the Chamber board chair in 1989-90 and chair of the Chamber’s Long Range Planning Committee in 1991-92.

From 1983-85 Ellenson served as a business representative on the Moorhead School District Title IX committee, studying school district gender equity in education programs. She was appointed in 1991-92 to the Moorhead Community Foundation Task Force by then Mayor Morris Lanning. Ellenson also served on the City of Moorhead’s Human Rights Task Force. Ellenson was active with the Moorhead Soroptimist Club from 1981-95 and at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. She volunteered at Eventide where she served as foundation board chair from 1986-89, and at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, where she served on the board of directors from 1993-2005.

Ann and Ed Ellenson have been married for 52 years. They have two daughters, Betsy and Rebecca, and six grandchildren. Ellenson lives in Henning, Minn.