1926 – Elmer Martin Weibel – 2017
Elmer was born on August 3, 1926 near Crofton, Nebraska to William and Bernadine Weibel. Elmer spent his youth in Nebraska. On October 31, 1945, Elmer enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served his country in World War II. He was deployed to the Islands of the Philippines as an active duty Army Paratrooper and was honorably discharged on November 9, 1946. Elmer married LaMae Vestergard on January 5, 1950 in Worthington, Minnesota. They were married for 64 years until her death on March 19, 2013. Seven children were born to this union of love: Marcia Rice, Randy Weibel, Sandra Weibel, Karen Rich, Linda Karjala, Teresa Gilbertson, and Laurel Zoet. Elmer was devoted to his family and was a self-taught carpenter, plumber, dairy and crop farmer who worked arduously to provide for his family. Elmer and LaMae lived in eastern South Dakota and northwest Iowa, until they purchased a dairy farm near Lake Wilson, Minnesota in 1969. In 1982, Elmer and LaMae moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Elmer worked at Sunny Crest Retirement Village until his retirement. Elmer and LaMae enjoyed their home in Tea, South Dakota as well as many trips as snowbirds to Texas, Arizona and California in their fifth-wheel camper. After LaMae’s death in 2013, Elmer moved to Marshall, MN which allowed him to live closer to his children. Elmer was an avid reader and skilled chess and card game player, and enjoyed playing pinnacle card games with his family. He was gifted in using his hands to build and restore, as well as, using his mind to invent and design. In addition, Elmer was an artist and created hand paintings for each of his children to cherish. Elmer passed away at the Royal C. Johnson Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D, on Friday, October 27, 2017 at the age 91.
Left to honor Elmer’s memory are his children: Marcia Rice (Brian), Maple Valley, MN; Randy Weibel, Canby, MN; Karen Rich (Anthony), Duluth MN; Linda Karjala (Merle), Cottonwood, MN; Teresa Gilbertson (Edward), Slayton, MN; and Laurel Zoet (Dale), Sheldon, IA; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grand child; and many loved nieces and nephews. Elmer was welcomed into heaven by his loving wife LaMae Weibel; daughter Sandra Weibel; granddaughter Leah Rich; grandson Mitchell Zoet; his parents William and Bernadine Weibel; his brothers and sisters: Theodore Weibel, Bernadine Hoebelheinrich, Gilbert Weibel, Verena Heimes, Alred Weibel, and EllaMae Weibel.
Funeral mass was held Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 10 a.m. at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Tea, South Dakota. Interment at Hills of Rest Memorial Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Funeral arrangements were through Heritage Funeral Home, 4800 S Minnesota Avenue Sioux Falls, SD.
