FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — For over eighty years, a North Dakota family has been waiting to reunite with a family member who was lost in World War II. The remains of Irvin Ellingson are set to arrive in Minneapolis this week, a last-minute change in plans that the family wasn’t prepared for.
“With all this planning and all the coordination that we have done, we’re very disappointed. And his casket now will come home Wednesday, this coming Wednesday morning at the Minneapolis airport,” said Lon Enerson, Nephew of Staff Sergeant Irvin Ellingson and Power of Attorney. “And instead of 150 Ellingson families, we have 11.”
Enerson knew of Irvin’s remains since 2018, when he was first contacted by someone searching for their grandfather’s remains from Manila. Families were asked to submit their DNA to be tested to coordinate with the remains. After confirming the remains within the last year, Enerson’s family had coordinated to be present, but the company involved in shipping gave short notice on the change…