Richard Elfstrom

Funeral Services for Richard Elfstrom will be held on Tuesday, May 15th at 11:00 AM at the Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton with Rev. Tim Shekleton officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be at the Wildwood Cemetery in Wheaton. Pallbearers are: Gordon Kruger, Jon Determan, Joel Determan, Edgar Johnson, Mike Estenson, Dennis Anderson and Gary Anderson. John Richard Elfstrom was born April 29th, 1906 to Peter and Martha (Dahberg) Elfstom in Lake Valley Township, Traverse County, Minnesota. He was baptized on September 18, 1906 at the Swedish Mission Church, which is now the Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton and confirmed on July 29th, 1923 by Pastor John E. Melin. Richard graduated from Wheaton High School in 1925. He continued to live on the family farm until he entered the Rosholt Care Center in October of 2003. Richard liked to write poetry and belonged to a special poetry group. One of his poems, The Country Nurse won the Editors Choice Award in 1996. Richard was a member of the Toastmasters Club and Dale Carnegie Class. He loved to entertain the neighborhood children with his Willy Jeep. There was lots of activity with young children at the Elfstrom farm. He was a devoted church member and had great love for his Lord. He had a very dear friend from Germany (Margit Rathe) who came to visit often. He received many letters from Pearl Cole, a special friend from Arroyo Grande, California, and also from her brother, Bill Bird from Toronto, South Dakota, who is enjoying his tractors he received from Richard. Richard is survived by a cousin: Joan (Tom) Nordquist of Owatonna, Minnesota, and Richards many friends were his extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents: 2 sisters: Christine Elfstrom and Ruby Browne and one brother, Albert Elfstrom. Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.