Carol Joffer

Carol Joffer, age 72, of Brooten, Minnesota passed away peacefully, with family at her side, on June 23, 2020 after a short battle with cancer, at her home in Brooten.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, June 29, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton, Minnesota with Lay Minister Kathy Terpstra officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at the funeral home.

Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton.

I was born on a cold, snowy Sunday afternoon December 7, 1947 in Breckenridge, MN to Hazel & Jerome Eickholt.  My mom and dad rode to the hospital with the doctor, as there was no hospital in Wheaton.

On the way home from the hospital that night, my dad rescued a neighbor lady stuck in the ditch.  My parents were the kind of people who did many nice things for others.

My special Swedish Grandma (Grandma Apple) lived with us my entire childhood.  I was an only child and she was like an older sister.  We had many fun times and I got my love of “sweets” from her.  I was an animal lover from the day I could walk, and had quite a variety of pets (cats, pet pig, parakeets) but my favorites were the dogs.  My mom and I raised orphaned lambs that a neighbor gave us.

Every Sunday, we would get together with my Westby Cousins from Rosholt, SD.  It was always a fun day.  We took our dimes and went to the pool hall and bought banana popsicles.  We played a lot of card games and my Aunt Milly loved to bake (I loved everything she made).

When I was 13 I won a manual typewriter by entering a contest.  I practice on this daily, and typed almost every day of my life after that. (From a typewriter to a computer).  I did office work full time for 50+ years.  I loved to write “Little True Stories” and would send them to friends & relatives.

I started working in Minneapolis in 1965, but hated the “Big City” and moved to Fergus Falls in 1967.  I worked for Moen Reality there for 19 ½ years.

My son, Travis was born in 1972, and we lived in Fergus until 1986 when we moved to Brooten, and I married Gary on Dec. 6, 1986.  My dad, Travis and I loved to fish.  Sadly, Travis passed away suddenly in June 1997 at age 24.  My mom passed away 7 months later.  It was so difficult not having “family”.

Gary and I spent many fun vacation trips out West to Wyoming to see cousins (Peggy on the way) & Keith & Kay.  My favorite hobbies were reading, cooking, baking (and eating what I baked) and gardening.

Walking my many wonderful dogs daily was the most enjoyable as I had a special bond with all of them.  Memorials are requested to local Animal Shelters (where I got my pets). The 24 red roses are in memory of the 24 short years I had with Trav.  Having many wonderful long time friends was a special delight over the years.

Carol is survived by her husband Gary Joffer of Brooten, MN; and her "Rosholt Cousins": Peggy Westby of Aberdeen, SD; Kay Pederson of Basin, WY; Betty Braaten of Rosholt, SD; and Dean Westby of Crestview, FL; and cousin Clayton (Pryia) Hartjen of Florida; and many lifetime friends.

Carol was preceded in death by her son Travis John Eickholt; parents Jerry and Hazel Eickholt; and beloved Grandma Emma.

(Obituary written by Carol)

In Lieu of Flowers Memorials are preferred to your local pet shelters.