Elline Jeannette Chaon, age 82, passed away peacefully Friday, December 26, 2025 surrounded by her family at Good Samaritan Society Canton. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 9, 2026 at Springdale Lutheran Church, rural Sioux Falls, SD. Visitation, with family present, will be Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 5-7 pm at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, SD.
Elline was born February 19, 1943 at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD to Philip and Jeannette (Strand) Iverson. She attended Springdale School District #38 and graduated from Canton High School in 1960. She attended Northern State University.
After her mother passed away, she changed to library science and graduated from The University of South Dakota in 1965. She worked at the Augustana College Library, managed Courtney’s Books & Things in Sioux Falls, and was librarian and museum curator for the Canton Carnegie Public Library and Earl Boyce Museum.
Elline was united in marriage to Jerry Chaon in Las Vegas, NV in 1979. Their son, Leslie, was born in 1980 and daughter, Jonette, was born in 1981.
Elline was very active in the Canton community, serving many years as a member of P.E.O. She was a member of the Canton Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Planning Committee for Canton’s Mobile Meals, South Dakota Library Association, and was co-chairman for the Canton Area Bicentennial Committee during 1975-76.
Elline was also very active at Springdale Lutheran Church, the church her family helped found. She taught Sunday school, was on the board of education, revised the history of the church, was active in WELCA and helped coordinate the Ice Cream Social and Soup and Pie Supper events. She adored her Springdale family and attending the worship service was one of the highlights of her week.
Grateful for having shared Elline’s life are her husband Jerry, son Leslie, daughter Jonette (Nate) McLaughlin, beloved grandchildren Logan and Miles McLaughlin and many nieces, nephews and cousins from her extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents and cousin, Roger Iverson, who was like a brother to her.
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