Elmer Affield
| Date of Interment or Death | 12/05/2023 |
|---|---|
| Location | Garden of the Christus |
| Block and Lot | 063D |
| Grave | 1 |
Obituary
Elmer H. Affield, the fifth of ten children of Reinhold and Bertha (Miller) Affield, was born October 30, 1908, on the family farm, Wilkin County, near Kent, MN. He was baptized April 4, 1909, and confirmed April 13, 1924, at Christ Lutheran Church, rural Wolverton, MN. He entered eternal life surrounded by family on December 2, 2003, at Bethany Homes, Fargo, ND.
Elmer attended the Nordick Township, District #78 one--room elementary school through 8th grade. In 1928, he enrolled in West Central School of Agriculture, Morris, MN, as a boarding student and graduated in the class of 1931. While at Morris, he was active in football, basketball and drama.
December 21, 1939, Elmer married Norma Hestdalen. They farmed near Kent until 1948 when they moved to Wahpeton, ND, continuing to farm and raise their family. Land they owned became Affields Addition on which the Affield Office Building served Richland County agricultural offices and where Norma was employed. He managed Richland Oil Company, Wahpeton, and was a Richland County rural mail carrier. He resided in Wahpeton until October 2000 when he moved to Bethany Towers in Fargo.
Elmer was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wahpeton, where he taught Sunday School for many years, served on the Board of Elders, and occasionally conducted Sunday services in the Pastor's absence. He volunteered with Immanuel's audiotape ministry until age 90.
His other interests included summers at Pickeral Lake, MN, with his family, and winters in Arizona and Texas with Norma. He attended Morris school reunions, followed current events and was an avid Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan.
Elmer also enjoyed gardening, yard work, tree planting and raising fruit trees. He was honored with Wahpeton's Yard of the Week award in 1984.
Recently the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod recognized him for 95 years of faithful membership. He was one of Wilkin County's oldest 4-H alumni.
Elmer is survived by two sons, Sheldon, Portland, OR, and Steven and his wife Rhonda, Maple Plain, MN; and two daughters, Sharon and her husband Myron Rostad, Fargo, ND and Roxann and her husband Craig Langseth, Lorena, TX. In addition, he is survived by seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren: Sara (Michael) Aigner, and their daughters, Elizabeth and Ava; Eric Langseth (Carla Seltveit); Seli Langseth (Gene Swaney) and their children, Alexandria and Riley; Nicole (Todd) Rostad Holdman; Nathan, David and Shelly Affield. He is also survived by his sisters-in law, Grace and Sophie Affield, both Breckenridge, MN, Phyllis Gylland, Colfax, ND, Ardyce Austin, Wahpeton, and brothers-in-law, Gordon Hestdalen, Halstad, MN; and John Solhjem, Wahpeton.
Elmer was preceded in death by Norma, his wife of 52 years. As the last surviving member of the Reinhold Affield family, he was preceded by his parents; brothers, Carl, Walter, Alvin, Lawrence, Helmuth and Berthold; and sisters, Louise Krueger, Elvera Van Wechel and Francis Mittendorf.
Elmer's grandchildren will serve as Pallbearers.
Visitation: Thursday, December 4, 2003, from 4 to 8 PM, Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.
Prayer service: Thursday, December 4, 2003, at 7 PM, at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.
Funeral service: Friday, December 5, 2003, at 10:30 am, at Immanuel Lutheran, Wahpeton, ND.
Burial: Fairview Memorial Gardens, Garden of Christus, Wahpeton, ND.
Headstone photograph(s)
Location
The Garden of the Christus is located in the Memorial Gardens, which comprises the northern half of the cemetery.