Elmer Doeden

Elmer Ordel Doeden, 83, of Nielsville, MN, went to be with his Savior early Tuesday morning, October 30, 2012, at the Sanford Health Palliative Care Center in Fargo, ND. Elmer was born on May 8, 1929, near Hillsboro, ND, and was one of four sons of the union of Fred and Alma (Amundson) Doeden. He grew up on the family farm near Caledonia, ND, and was later baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Elmer attended the Bingham School, which was a country school near Cummings, ND; and later helped out on area farms, drove school bus, and worked for Northern States Power in Grand Forks. During these years he earned his wings as a pilot and did quite a bit of flying, not only for pleasure, but on occasion even helped out neighbors stranded by heavy winter snows and in need of supplies. Elmer entered the U.S. Army on September 16, 1951, and served with an artillery unit of the 5th Army, 37th Battalion, in Korea during the Korean War. In recognition of his service to his country he was awarded the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. Elmer was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal on June 18, 1953, and was assigned to the US Army Reserve until 1961. He returned home to work on area farms, while also taking correspondence courses in the mechanical trades. He used that knowledge throughout his life, doing his own repairs and those of his neighbors and others. On August 28, 1954 Elmer was united in marriage to Verla Billing at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Beltrami, MN. The couple made their home in Hubbard Township, near Nielsville, all their married lives, and together raised three daughters: Penny, Sandy, and Linda. Elmer was employed on the Gunnar Paulsrud farm for thirty years, and spent nineteen winters working for the railroad out of Grand Forks. He later worked for other area farmers until his retirement in 2007. Elmer was a devoted member of the St. Petri Lutheran Church in Nielsville, and served the church as a deacon, trustee, and very faithful usher. He also held memberships in Hubbard American Legion Post #336 of Nielsville, and the Grand Forks Eagles Aerie. Elmer was an avid gardener during his later years. He was quite proud of his vegetables and took great pleasure in sharing his bounty with family and friends. He was a very loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He touched the lives and hearts of so many and will be dearly missed. Elmer's memory will be forever cherished by his loving wife of fifty-eight years, Verla; their three daughters: Penny (Mike) Morse of Moorhead, MN, Sandy (Myles) Efta of Greenbush, MN, and Linda (Jerry) McBain of Moorhead; twelve grandchildren: Angie Baird, Chris Efta, J.J. (Leslie) Efta, Dusty Efta, Danielle (Josh) Gunderson, Deven Efta, Dayne (Briana) Efta, Erin Efta, and Brittney, Brandon, Jordyn, and Tanner McBain; and seven great-grandchildren: Sonya, Kassie, Aryk, Jon, Alize, Finley, and Jade. He also leaves two brothers, Leroy (Janet) Doeden of West Fargo, ND and Fred (Dee) Doeden Jr. of Dilworth, MN; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Darrell (Fannie Jean) Billing of Wichita Falls, TX, Sheryl (Gary) Cariveau of East Grand Forks, NN, Diane Bradley of Dalton Gardens, ID, Carolyn Billing of Fergus Falls, MN, Theresa Billing of Beltrami, MN, and Jolene Billing of Crookston, MN; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Ricky Efta; his parents, Fred and Alma; and a brother, Lynn (Viola) Doeden. May God richly bless the memory of Elmer Ordel Doeden.

The funeral service for Elmer Doeden will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 3, 2012, at the St. Petri Lutheran Church in Nielsville, MN, with the Rev. Valerian Ahles, presiding. Visitation will be held at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston on Friday from 5-7:00 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, and also at the church for one hour prior to the funeral. Interment will be in the Sundet Cemetery, rural Nielsville, with Military Honors provided by Nielsville's Hubbard American Legion Post #336, and the Moorhead, MN National Guard Honors Unit

---

Previous Events

Visitation
Friday, November 2, 2012
Service
Saturday, November 3, 2012
cemetery
Saturday, November 3, 2012