RAPID CITY, S.D.—Duane Ellingson, a long-time credit union advocate and the former president of Black Hills FCU, has died.
Mr. Ellingson, who served as president of BHFCU from 1969-1983, in 1982 became the first person to receive the “Credit Union Person of the Year Award” by the then South Dakota CU League. In 2008, he was inducted into the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas Hall of Fame.
The CUAD quoted Roger Heacock, the current president of Black Hills FCU and worked under Mr. Ellingson for five years, as observing, “Duane was ahead of his time. He was a visionary thinker, an innovative strategist, and he deeply cared for staff and members – all of which contributed to the tremendous success BHFCU experienced through the years. I will always appreciate and treasure the years I worked with him and the opportunity I had to learn from the best.”
Mr. Ellingson lobbied for credit unions to be able to offer share drafts and wrote the first share draft in South Dakota. The CUAD also noted that when faced with devastating losses during the 1972 flood, Mr. Ellingson set another precedent by convincing regulators to allow BHFCU to utilize reserves to absorb the expenses and spare members the financial hardship.
The CUAD shared this quote from Mr. Ellingson: “Always be mindful of your members, and you will serve both them and yourself well.”