I recently lost my mom. Ellsworth Funeral (Bob and Abby) were kind, caring and compassionate. If I contacted them with questions, they were speedy to respond. They seemed to anticipate our needs, which made this process so much easier. I’d recommend them to anyone who is going through the difficult journey of losing a loved one. Many heartfelt thanks to them.

If I could do less than 1 star review I would. My parents purchased 2 plots at Graceland Cemetary because my Grandparents are laid to rest there and my mothers only iron clad desire for her death is to be buried next to my grandfather and my dad next to her. They purchased the plots in 2002 from Bob Ellsworth and was given a hand drawn map and garuntee that she had the two plots to the side of her fathers resting place, however in 2019 I made a visit to my grandparents graves and noticed that those plots were occupied. I notified my mother and after she confirmed that those plots were in fact sold to someone else AFTER she purchased them it took 3 years of attempting to contact Bob or anyone (we were not aware that ownership had been changed to Alex and now Bob is Again owner) and for him to finally respond. And his response was pretty much “too bad” called my mother delusional, and pretty much laughed at the fact that “there’s nothing we can do about it” then tried to tell my mother that she purchased plots on the opposite side of the cemetery, he made a claim that he walked her thru to the plots she purchased, however that never happened. So even tho she has a hand drawn and signed map the HE himself drew. We are struggling to find a resolution to this because again, he sold the same plots to other people. ***RESPONSE TO ELLSWORTH REPLY 2/20*** Your “offers” were for my parents to be buried in the alley on top of eachother in a SINGULAR space (we will not dignify that by calling it a plot…you were offering to bury MY MOM AND DAD in an ALLEY!)or to be cremated and buried in the same plots as my grandparents!! You say my parents purchased two plots in the adjacent lot, that being LOT 8, but not next to my grandparents….they were on the opposite side of the other lot….the map YOU drew clearly puts my mom and dad in the two plots directly next to my grandfather and my uncle in the two plots next to my grandmother. There is no confusion, just shady business practices by a predatory company in a small town. YOU Sir drew the map with YOUR hand on the same paper that you provided the proof of receipt of payment in full AND SIGNED IT making that a contract, and then you call my very competent and intelligent mom “delusional” and made false claims of personally walking her thru the Cemetary to show her the plots, and you know that’s a lie, and now you do not want to keep your word to my family. You sold the same plots to TWO families and now my parents are now screwed because YOU screwed them out of the plots they bought!

My parent passed away in 2021. I am going through the same thing only my parent has a prepaid funeral fund. This paperwork was withheld from the family so we have no idea of our ma's wishes. We found out after the funeral there was a prepaid plan. The beneficiaries is the funeral home and that was Bob Ellsworth from Ellsworth Funeral Home in Madison SD. I believe Alex Nurnberg runs it now and Terry Lee did at some point It is 8-28-2022 and we still have no answers nor the proper funeral. 1. Do not use Willoughby Funeral Home or Ellsworth because both are owned by the same people. Robert Ellsworth, Terry Lee and Alex Nurnberg. 2. This is my opinion and others can do as they may but my experience was horrible. I'm still seeing a counselor, losing parent is hard as it is but finding out after the fact her funeral was nothing like she asked for and paid for. This broke my heart.. I don't want anyone else to have to go through this. 3. South Dakota Laws 34-25-25: The funeral director should have death certificate filed within 5 days of death. 4. Federal law: restricts how trust funds are invested. Overcharging, marking up prices and unnecessary services. 5. The funeral home must give you a itemized general pricelist so ask for it before the funeral. 6. The FTC Funeral Rule: The funeral home must give you a (GPL) statement listing every good and service you selected, the price of each and total cost immediately after making the arrangements. 7. File a complaint with the Attorney General. 8 .File a complaint with the Funeral Home Board of Directors. 9. Consult with a Attorney. 10. It is Federal so contact the FBI. 11. If comfortable, ask the media for help to get answers.