Funeral Services for Edwin Engholm, 94, Morgan, were held Tuesday, March 9, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Morgan, with burial following in Zion Eden Cemetery, rural Morgan. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Morgan or Minnesota Valley Lutheran School in New Ulm. Arrangements were with Nelson-Martin Funeral Service of Morgan. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelsonmartinfuneralservice.com.
Edwin “Ed” Waldo Engholm was born Jan. 10, 1916, at Deer Creek, Webster County, Iowa, to Henry and Anna (Becker) Engholm. God called him home to Himself in heaven on Saturday, March 6, 2010, at Sleepy Eye Medical Center, surrounded by his family. He was baptized on Jan. 23, 1916, in Deer Creek. At the age of five years, he moved with his family to the Sleepy Eye area. There he grew up, attending different country schools, finishing his eighth grade education at St. John’s Parochial School in Sleepy Eye. There he was confirmed on April 13, 1930, by Pastor Wm. Albrecht. Ed operated a gas station in Iowa for a few years; then returned to the Sleepy Eye area where he worked as a farm laborer. On Sept. 16, 1942, Ed married his “sweetheart,” Minnie Laube at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran parsonage in Eden Township. They became parents of three children, Gerald, Patsy and Donna. The family moved to the Carlos area in 1952, where they farmed for 11 years. Ed was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Carlos where he served on the church board. The family returned to the Sleepy Eye area in 1963, where they farmed for 20 years, northeast of Evan, before retiring in 1982, then moving into their home in Morgan. Ed served on the church board several times at Zion Lutheran Church in Morgan. He worked for several years at the Asgrow plant in rural Redwood Falls. Ed’s greatest love was for his Lord, his wife of 67 years and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ed also loved to fish, hunt, play cards and plan his yearly “rib fest” with his family. He loved to garden and especially loved sharing his bounty with family and friends. Collecting pop can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, benefiting the March of Dimes, was dear to his heart with his great-granddaughter, Emily, being his inspiration.
Ed is survived by his wife, Minnie of Morgan; son, Gerald (Dianne) of Sleepy Eye; and daughters, Patsy Eckstein (special friend Victor) of Sleepy Eye, and Donna Ritter (Bill) of Mankato. He leaves six grandsons, Brian (Brenda) of Sleepy Eye, Lonny (Shelli) of Morgan, Tim Eckstein (Dawn) of Lakefield, Cory Eckstein of Sleepy Eye, Chad Ritter of Richmond, Va. and Jared Ritter (special friend Angela) of Mankato; one granddaughter, Nicole Ritter Dewes (Gil) of Mankato; and step-grandson, Bill Ritter (Teri) of Hudson, Wis. Also surviving are 11 great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; three step-great-great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Florence Engholm of Gil-Mor and Mava Engholm of Morgan.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Anna; step-mother, Kathrine; sisters, Erna Lendt and Lucille Laube; brothers, Elmer, Waldo, Orville and Ivan; and in-laws, Marvin Lendt, Harold Laube and Doris Engholm. Also preceding him was his much-loved granddaughter, Sherri; and infant granddaughter.
Blessed be his memory.
