Bobby Ertsgaard

Bobby Ertsgaard, age 87, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at the Traverse Care Center in Wheaton, Minnesota.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton, Minnesota with Pastor Tim Shekleton officiating. Organist will be Cheryl Shekleton.

Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery. Military Rites will be provided by the Merton Dale American Legion Post #80. Pallbearers will be "Grandchildren" Lesley Braaten, Chad Braaten, Grant Kress, Christopher Ertsgaard, Andrew Ertsgaard, Danielle Ertsgaard, and Amanda Kress. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dennis Sellden, Donna Iseminger, Diane Hildebrandt, Jean Everett, Jim Bendickson, Dean Lampe, Mary Lampe, Wally Johnson, Larry Vipond

Visitation will be held Saturday one hour prior to service time at the church.

Bobby Dean Ertsgaard was born on July 31, 1930, the son of John and Ella (Larson) Ertsgaard in rural Wheaton, Minnesota. Bob grew up and attended country school before graduating Wheaton High School in 1948. He worked at the Wheaton Elevator until he was drafted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the Korean War. For his service he received the Korean Service Medal with two stars, the U.N. Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Following his honorable discharge he returned to Wheaton. He worked for a short time at the elevator in the office as the bookkeeper. He moved to Aurora, Minnesota in 1957 and worked in the taconite industry.

On June 7, 1958 he married Jacqueline Ann Hofstedt at the Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton. They returned to Aurora where they lived until 1960 then they returned to Wheaton. He went back to work at the Wheaton Elevator as the bookkeeper and later as the office manager until his retirement in 1994. Bobby delivered newspapers for the Wheaton Gazette and also was a driver for the Rainbow Rider.

He enjoyed fishing, bowling, golf, playing cards, shaking dice, horseshoes, hunting and spending time with his family. Bobby was an avid Minnesota Twins fan. Bobby was known for his joking and teasing and good mood.

Bobby is survived by his wife Jackie of Wheaton; daughter Lori (Jeff) Kress of Fergus Falls; son Todd (Melissa) Ertsgaard of River Falls, Wisconsin; five grandchildren: Lesley (Chad) Braaten of Fargo; Grant (Amanda) Kress of Fargo; Christopher Ertsgaard of Minneapolis; Andrew Ertsgaard and Danielle Ertsgaard of River Falls; four great-grandchildren: Kenna, Tucker, Cameron and Carly; twin sister Betty Lampe of Wheaton; and several nieces and nephews.

Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Ella Mae Bendickson and Darlene Sellden and brother Arling Ertsgaard.