Ellen K. Farrar, 94, passed away June 28, 2013 at Westhills Village Health Care after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease. Ellen Katherine Kirk was born August 1, 1918 at Pringle, SD to John Kirk and Anna (Zeimet) Kirk. She graduated from high school in Custer, SD as valedictorian in 1936. She came to Rapid City in 1936 to attend Black Hills Commercial College, graduated and held several secretarial positions, one of which was for the Mount Rushmore Commission. She is listed as an original Mount Rushmore worker at Mount Rushmore. She obtained a Civil Service appointment, as a senior stenographer, and worked for the Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC from 1941 to 1943. Ellen married John C. Farrar on May 6, 1942 in Rapid City. Ellen returned to Washington D.C., as John headed off for induction into the Army. By 1947 John and Ellen were living in Rapid City and raising their family. John, a local attorney, and Ellen were very interested in the community and participated in many community groups. Ellen was a long time member of the Catholic Daughter's of America. She served as president, secretary, and treasurer of the local American Legion Auxiliary, chapeau of the local and state 8 et 40, counselor of the local and state United Commercial Travelers Auxiliary, secretary of the Wilson Elementary School PTA, secretary of the Minnilusa Historical Association, and treasurer of the League of Women Voters. She was also active as a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader. Ellen was always striving to improve herself professionally. She became a Certified Professional Secretary in 1964. After helping her husband get his education in law at USD in Vermillion and inspiring her 5 children to earn college degrees; she herself went back to school and earned a BS in Applied Management from National College of Business in 1988. She continued to be active in the community, while working. She retired from the registrar's office of National College as a transcript evaluator in 1987. She is survived by her daughter, Katherine (Jerry) Farless of Santa Ana, CA, her four sons John C. Farrar, Jr. of Seattle, WA, Ralph (Karen) Farrar of Centennial, CO, Michael (Janet) Farrar of Cheyenne, WY, and Matthew Farrar of Boise, ID, 8 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren and her special cousin, Mary Brady of Spearfish, SD. She was preceded in death by her husband, John, her parents and her 4 brothers, Thomas, Samuel, John, and Ralph, and 2 sisters, Clara, and Anna.