Elmer Henry Grindahl

Funeral services for Elmer Grindahl of Roseau, MN will be held Saturday, October 29th at 1 PM at First Baptist Church in Roseau.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Private interment will be at the Spruce Cemetery in Roseau.

Elmer Henry Grindahl passed away October 18, 2016 at Lifecare Roseau Manor. He was 95 years old.

Elmer was born December 12, 1920 in Malung Township to Henry and Frances (Zak) Grindahl. He grew up in Malung, the fourth of 10 children. He graduated from Roseau High School.

On September 20, 1947, he married Ercyl Mellstrom. The couple moved to Minneapolis but returned to Roseau a few years later where he built a home on a farmstead 3 ½ miles west of town. Not only did he farm 160 acres and raise beef cattle and sheep, he worked full-time at the Northrup King seed processing plant, drove school bus for the Roseau School District, and sold and repaired Electrolux vacuum cleaners.

Though always busy, he somehow found time every year to take his family on a 1-2 week vacation to places like Disneyland, Washington, D.C., the Black Hills, the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone and other national parks and places of interest.  He was also an active member of the First Baptist Church serving on various committees and dedicating his time and resources to help the church expand. Helping neighbors in need, especially with farm chores never seemed a burden.

Elmer loved the outdoors. He looked forward to fishing and deer hunting – though the big ones often got away. He also loved to “tinker”. If something broke there was always a “farmer fix” to get it working again.

Elmer is survived by two sisters, Ethel Winje of Midland, TX and Lillie Strong of International Falls; and one brother, Floyd Grindahl of Malung, MN; three children Mervin (Pat) Grindahl of Waseca, MN, Dean (Doreen) Grindahl of Grand Forks, ND, Nancy (Ed) Rosston of Sioux City, IA; five grandchildren Christen Grindahl of Seattle, WA, Rachel Orth (Andy) of St. Paul, MN, Liz Chermack (Eric) of Apple Valley, MN, George Rosar of Minneapolis, MN and Kelly Smith (Chris) of Douglas City, CA; four great-grandchildren Jenna and Serena Chermack, Sierra and Asher Smith; numerous nieces and nephews, including a very special niece Rhonda Rothenberger who has been a wonderful neighbor, companion and caregiver.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers John, Nels and Carl Grindahl; three sisters Violet Wahlin, Pearl Mitterling and Rose Mittlerling; and his wife of 68 years Ercyl, who passed away 3 months before him.

 Service Information