Ellen L. McCullough

January 19, 1929 - October 9, 2017

Ellen L. McCullough, 88, of Dakota City, passed away October 9, 2017 at the Humboldt Care Center South. Graveside services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 14, at the West Bend Cemetery in West Bend. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt. Ellen Besch McCullough, daughter of Frank and Bernice Simmons Besch, was born January 19, 1929 in West Bend, Garfield Township, Kossuth Co., IA. She was united in marriage to Marvin Dallas McCullough on October 20, 1947 in West Bend, Iowa where they resided until August of 1966. They moved to Humboldt when Marvin worked for Coca Cola. They moved to Dakota City in 1976. Ellen, with her daughter, Gayle, owned and operated the M & M Used Clothing Store in Dakota City for many years. Ellen loved to play cards at the PROWLER in Humboldt, owned by her son Dennis, on Sundays and at the Humboldt Senior Center on Wednesdays. Ellen especially enjoyed playing cards after being rescued from the nursing home in Cedar Rapids by her three oldest children; Gary L. McCullough of Littleton, CO; Gayle Lemmon of Humboldt, IA and Dennis D. McCullough of Humboldt. Ellen lived in Humboldt with her daughter Gayle, Ellen’s primary care giver, since March of 2014. Teri Cerwick of Hardy, IA a very special and dear friend helped Gayle take care of all of Ellen’s needs. Dennis was Ellen’s court appointed guardian. Following hip surgery in November 2016, Ellen has resided at the South Humboldt Care Center in Humboldt, IA. Ellen McCullough died at South Humboldt Care Center on Monday, October 9, 2017. She reached the age of 88 years. Other surviving children are John Marvin (Jack) McCullough of Las Vegas, NV; James J. McCullough of Cedar Rapids, IA; Mark Robert McCullough of Las Vegas, NV. Also, surviving are estranged sisters, Eileen Wirtz of Carroll, IA, JoAnn Reed of Mankato, MN and many grandchildren and great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Ellen Besch McCullough was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Bernice Simmons Besch; husband, Marvin McCullough and brother, Kenneth Besch.