Ellayne Velde-Conyers grew up in southwestern Minnesota and now lives in Edina, Minnesota. She attended Augsburg College in Mpls. and SSU in Marshall. She worked as a para-professional at Marshall’s first Middle School for ten years and then for another ten years with the Minnesota Extension Services. For part of that time she was transferred to the U of M Campus 4-H office where she was assistant to the director and supervised the Civil Service staff. Upon returning to Marshall Ellayne became the executive director of the Lyon County History Museum for the next 21 years. During that time she also served on the Marshall Area YMCA Founding Board of Directors, served two terms as Marshall Police Commissioner, conducted after-school homework sessions for new-immigrant Middle School Students, co-chaired the Marshall 125th Five-day Celebration, served as Area Representative of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial, and supported the creation of the Arts and Entertainment District in..