ELSIE BEGGS

Elsie Jane (Ebben) Philipsen Beggs, of Isanti, passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at home surrounded by family.  She was 92 years old.

Elsie was born on September 27, 1931, in Green Bay, Wisconsin to parents Peter and Florence (Vercauteren) Ebben.  She grew up and attended school in De Pere, Wisconsin.

In 1951, Elsie was united in marriage to Alfred Philipsen.  They moved to Oneida, Wisconsin where they farmed and were blessed with four children. The family moved to Green Bay where they owned and operated a bar.  After Alfred’s unexpected death in September of 1960, Elsie had to become a strong and independent single mother. She worked as a nanny for several prominent Packer football player’s families for several years, which cemented her status as a lifetime Packers Fan. 

While working as a housekeeper at a hotel, she met Otis Beggs, an over the road truck driver from Minnesota.  They were married on December 19, 1971, in Cambridge, MN.  Elsie and Otis built their dream home in Isanti where they joined their two families together.  Elsie worked as a nurse’s aide at the Cambridge Health Care center and retired after working as a home health aide for Isanti County.  Elsie received her class A license allowing her and Otis to travel countless miles together in their semi-truck, making deliveries across the country.  After retiring in 1993, they downsized to a smaller home next door where Elsie spent her remaining years.

Elsie enjoyed camping and fishing for sunfish on lakes near Orr and Nisswa.  She and Otis enjoyed 12 years of traveling in their motorhome to South Padre, Texas during the winter months. She had a great love for nature, watching and feeding the birds, gardening, and trips to Crex Meadows.  She was an avid collector of McDonald’s memorabilia. Her kindness, caring, and generosity were witnessed in how she raised her family, cared for friends and strangers alike, and supported those in need throughout her life.  Her greatest love was for her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be dearly missed.

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Alfred Philipsen, granddaughter Danielle Ethen, stepson Scott Beggs, siblings, Verna (Robert) Anderson, Bernard (Arlene) Ebben, and Richard (Jean) Ebben.

She is survived by her husband Otis; children, Bonnye (Joe) Engebos, John (Jeanne) Philipsen, Vicky (Dan) Ethen, and Becky (Jim) Swing; stepson Bruce Beggs; 12 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; many other relatives and friends. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic church in Braham.

A Memorial Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at the Hamilton Funeral Homes - Rock Chapel in Braham and 1 hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church.

A Rosary Service will be held at 5:45pm on Wednesday at the funeral home.

A Private Family Inurnment will be in the Fridsborg Cemetery in East Bethel.

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