Jason Lee Ellingson

Jason Lee Ellingson, 51, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family in Coon Rapids, MN on Sunday October 18, 2026, after a valiant battle against glioblastoma. A memorial service will be held at 10am on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home in Albert Lea, MN. Pastor Mary Fiel will be officiating.

Jason was born on June 18th, 1975 to Leroy Ellingson and Renae Seifert (Throne) in Albert Lea, MN. He graduated from Austin High School in 1993 and went on to get his Bachelors Degree for Business Management from Southwest Minnesota State University. He met the love of his life, Mindy Bush, in 1993, and they would later join hands and say “I do” on August 9th, 2008. Together, they raised a loving family with their two children, Danielle and Matthew. Jason and Mindy spent 32 years together, and were married for 18 years, doing what they loved at every turn and living life to the fullest. Jason started working for Carlson Wagonlit Travel in 2001 in Austin, but later moved to the Twin Cities for his job in 2007 with his family where he eventually became Global Program Director, the position he held until his diagnosis and subsequent retirement after 25 years.

Jason was a very stoic, driven and positive man. He always saw the bright side, saw the best in everyone, and was always a glass half-full type of person. His mere presence would light up any room he entered and his smile was infectious. If you found Jason alone, you might find him reading books on motivation and personal growth, developing the love of certain quotes that would later line his wrist on a silicon band that he personally designed. His calm demeanor turned him into an animal whisperer, much to the chagrin of Mindy. He leaves behind his beloved cat, Maizy, to which the family jokes was his favorite child. He was a great dad, always there for his children, and making sure they grew up to be caring adults.

Jason spent his life loving sports, especially Minnesota teams like the Timberwolves, who he watched for years as a season ticket holder with his friends. Jason also loved challenging others on a pool table, oftentimes forcing them to pony up quarters as he regularly sunk the 8-ball before his opponents. He also loved to join his friends on the golf course, including teeing off in an annual golf tournament that supported children and families facing childhood cancer.

What Jason loved most though were his adventures around the world; from his time on the job to his trips with his family and friends, he would never turn down an opportunity to see the world and take in new sights, sounds, cultures, and experiences. This love of travel led him to his favorite place in the world, Ireland, in 2025, with Mindy. There he loved the Irish Pubs and especially the energy in Galway. The memories that Jason and Mindy created on all their trips is something they, along with their family and friends, will cherish forever.

Jason is survived by his wife Mindy Ellingson; children Danielle Bush and Matthew Ellingson; his mother Renae Seifert and father Leroy Ellingson; step-fathers David Seifert and Eric Leraaen; siblings Alysia Steinbeck, Travis Ellingson, and Karri Hall. His brothers-in-law Brad Bush, Ben (Nina) Bush, Brent (Valerie) Christensen; nieces and nephews Olivia, Jerry, Emsley, Daxton, Kayd, Kash, Max, Spencer, Samuel and Caden; and father-in-law David Bush.

Jason is preceded in death by his grandmothers Lila Ellingson and Phyllis Cox; grandfather Kenneth Ellingson; mother-in-law Lynn Leraaen; and brother-in-law Johnny Christensen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the National Brain Tumor Society.

Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home has been honored to serve the Ellingson family.