1939
Neil
2016
Neil Ehlers
September 12, 1939 — December 8, 2016
Neil Ehlers, age 77 of Elbow Lake passed away Thursday, December 8, 2016 at Prairie Ridge Hospital in Elbow Lake. Neil Alfred Jerome Ehlers was born September 12 1939 in Fergus Falls, MN, the son of Nevin Jerome and Arlene (Tollefson) Ehlers. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. As a youth he worked at Range Hatchery in Elbow Lake, cleaning brooders. He graduated from Elbow Lake/Wendell High School in 1958, where he was co-captain of the football team. On August 8, 1959 he married Sharon Marie Nelson at First Lutheran Church in Elbow Lake. Neil and Sharon spent many evenings roller skating together.
After school he enlisted in the Army Reserve where he completed basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and later received his specialized training in Fort Ord, CA. Neil served as a chef in his unit. While in the reserves, he spent two weeks a year in summer camp at Camp McCoy, WI. Neil was a seed salesman for fifteen years working for seed companies in Iowa and Minnesota. He worked for Mendelson Ag Company in Elbow Lake and the OK Tire Store alongside Jim Nyquist. He drove as a long haul trucker nationwide for twenty years, and later worked alongside family on the Lacey Ridge Farm, until recently where he worked for Sara Lee Bread Company in Fergus Falls. He was a member of the Ashby Legion Post 357, current member of VFW, past member the Elbow Lake Lions, Fergus Falls Elks Club, and was a member of United Lutheran Church. He was one of the founding members of the Grant County Wagon Train where he served as Wagon Master. He spent over 30 years working at the Grant County Food Shelf. In his younger years he enjoyed trapping and was very proud of his cars and pick-ups. Family was very important to Neil, spending many family vacations in Florida. Neil and Sharon took multiple cruises together with numerous family members. He liked working in his flower gardens, with his favorite being the gladiolas. Neil deeply loved his wife, Sharon, and his family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Nevin and Arlene. Neil is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Sharon; daughter, Debbie (Brian) Lacey of Ten Mile Lake, Dalton; son, Kirk (Karla) Ehlers of Wendell; grandchildren, Steve (Jaylene) Lacey, Krystal (Joshua) Crance, Donald (Lisa) Lacey, Neil Carlos Ehlers, Cristina Ehlers; great-grandchildren, Natasha, Sadie, Cassadee, Gabe, Ava, and Jackston, along with numerous other relatives, and a host of friends. Visitation: 6:00PM to 8:00PM Tuesday, December 13 at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home of Elbow Lake with a Prayer Service beginning at 7:30PM. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Funeral: 10:30AM Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home, Elbow Lake. Clergy: Pastor Mike Cieniawski
Burial: Lawrence Cemetery Online condolences: EricksonSmithFH.com
Funeral Home: Erickson-Smith Funeral Home - Elbow Lake 116 1st Street NE Elbow Lake, MN US 56531
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Service
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
cemetery
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
After school he enlisted in the Army Reserve where he completed basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and later received his specialized training in Fort Ord, CA. Neil served as a chef in his unit. While in the reserves, he spent two weeks a year in summer camp at Camp McCoy, WI. Neil was a seed salesman for fifteen years working for seed companies in Iowa and Minnesota. He worked for Mendelson Ag Company in Elbow Lake and the OK Tire Store alongside Jim Nyquist. He drove as a long haul trucker nationwide for twenty years, and later worked alongside family on the Lacey Ridge Farm, until recently where he worked for Sara Lee Bread Company in Fergus Falls. He was a member of the Ashby Legion Post 357, current member of VFW, past member the Elbow Lake Lions, Fergus Falls Elks Club, and was a member of United Lutheran Church. He was one of the founding members of the Grant County Wagon Train where he served as Wagon Master. He spent over 30 years working at the Grant County Food Shelf. In his younger years he enjoyed trapping and was very proud of his cars and pick-ups. Family was very important to Neil, spending many family vacations in Florida. Neil and Sharon took multiple cruises together with numerous family members. He liked working in his flower gardens, with his favorite being the gladiolas. Neil deeply loved his wife, Sharon, and his family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Nevin and Arlene. Neil is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Sharon; daughter, Debbie (Brian) Lacey of Ten Mile Lake, Dalton; son, Kirk (Karla) Ehlers of Wendell; grandchildren, Steve (Jaylene) Lacey, Krystal (Joshua) Crance, Donald (Lisa) Lacey, Neil Carlos Ehlers, Cristina Ehlers; great-grandchildren, Natasha, Sadie, Cassadee, Gabe, Ava, and Jackston, along with numerous other relatives, and a host of friends. Visitation: 6:00PM to 8:00PM Tuesday, December 13 at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home of Elbow Lake with a Prayer Service beginning at 7:30PM. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Funeral: 10:30AM Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home, Elbow Lake. Clergy: Pastor Mike Cieniawski
Burial: Lawrence Cemetery Online condolences: EricksonSmithFH.com
Funeral Home: Erickson-Smith Funeral Home - Elbow Lake 116 1st Street NE Elbow Lake, MN US 56531
Previous Events
VisitationTuesday, December 13, 2016
6:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
Erickson-Smith Funeral Home - Elbow Lake
116 1st Street NE
Elbow Lake, MN 56531
Prayer Service beginning at 7:30PM. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service.
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
10:30 AM
Erickson-Smith Funeral Home - Elbow Lake
116 1st Street NE
Elbow Lake, MN 56531
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Lawrence Cemetery
Wendell, MN
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