Sidney D. White

Sidney Dean White, age 80, of Ellsworth, WI, passed away on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at his home with his family by his side.

He was born March 5, 1946, to Maynard and Hattie (Olson) White in Lakota, IA. He grew up on a farm in Iowa, moving to Stanchfield, MN, at age 12. He graduated from high school there and went on to briefly attend technical college.

On October 21, 1967, he married LouElla Thompson at Wyanett Evangelical Free Church in Princeton, MN. Their first significant homestead was in Stanchfield where they lived for 4 years. They then moved to a hobby farm in Stillwater where they lived with their two children, Lisa and Shane. Sid and Lou lived there for 23 years until they built their dream house on a hobby farm they named Pondview Acres in Ellsworth, WI.

Sid was a hard-working man who took great pride in his businesses, especially refurbishing small engines/compressors. He had a gift for fixing what was broken. He approached every project with the same patience and precision he applied to life, believing that things of value were meant to be maintained and cared for. He was a member of the Valley-Hi Riders Saddle Club in Lake Elmo, MN. He loved spending time trail-riding and taking trips out West with their granddaughters. Sid especially enjoyed creating and enhancing the "park-like trail system" on their beautiful farm to share with loved family and friends. In doing so, many cherished memories were created while horseback riding, snowmobiling, sledding, and much more.

Sid lived by simple but profound ideals: work hard, speak the truth, and tend to the land with his farm equipment. He believed in the value of a job well done and the importance of being a man of his word. His greatest pride wasn't found in what he owned, but in the family he built and the quiet, steady way he cared for those around him. He cherished the friendships he formed through his unique ability to connect with people and "strike up a conversation" with nearly anyone.

He is survived by his wife, LouElla of Ellsworth; daughter, Lisa (Paul) Wilcox of Iron River, WI; three granddaughters, Reese, Riley, and Rose Wilcox; siblings Kendall (Melvin) Grell and Joe (Roxanne) White; brothers and sisters-in-law, Darwin Thompson, Chuck (Sharon) Thompson, Rosie (Ron) Tonga, and Carol (Jim) Zaccone; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Maynard and Hattie White; son, Shane White; brother, James; sister-in-law, LaVonne Anderson; and brothers-in-law, Dwight and Douglas Thompson.

Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 1, 2026 at the First Covenant Church in River Falls.  Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at church.  A reception will follow immediately after the service.