Elroy Meyer

Elroy Meyer, 90, of Wahpeton, ND passed away on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at St. Catherine’s Living Center, Wahpeton.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at St. John’s Catholic Church, Wahpeton from 5-7 pm, followed by a prayer service at 7:00 pm and a Knights of Columbus Rosary afterward. Visitation will continue Friday, May 11, 2018, from 9-10 am, followed by the funeral mass at 10 am at St. John’s Catholic Church, with Rev. Dale Lagodinski officiating.  Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Wahpeton.  Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home.

Elroy Meyer was born on January 6, 1928 at home on the family farm to George and Ida (Krause) Meyer.  He grew up on the farm along with his six siblings.  They farmed with horses and he enjoyed horse trading, a trait he acquired from his Dad.

Elroy attended Summit #2 Country School until the age of 14 when his father passed away, leaving his mother Ida and her seven children behind.  Elroy had to leave school after the 8th grade to help run the family farm and raise his four younger siblings.

Elroy married Beata Braun on June 25, 1958 in Wheaton, MN.  They lived on the family farm where they raised their four children.  He farmed with his brother, Jerry, for a short while, and later with his sons, Greg and Rob.  Elroy was one of the 40 founding growers of the Minn-Dak Sugar Beet Cooperative in 1974, having raised sugar beets for Crystal Sugar prior to that.  Farming was Elroy’s life, and even after his two sons took over the farming operation, he would return every fall to run the sugar beet topper until the age of 86.

Elroy was a master carpenter, building many homes for his mother, siblings, and daughter Sue. In 1976, he and his brother, Lambert, bought property on the north side of Ottertail Lake, and together they cleared the land and built lake cabins, which became the site for many family memories.  He enjoyed his time spent on the lake whether it was water skiing in his younger years or later sitting in the cabin watching the Minnesota Twins.

After his retirement, he and Beata had more time to take up golfing, which he enjoyed playing well into his 80’s.  They traveled to warmer climates with friends in the winter, driving south until “they could get a golf tee into the ground.”  From 1997 to 2009 they spent winters in Brownsville, TX with his brother and sister-in-law, Bud and JoAnn, where they golfed and made many new friends.  They enjoyed spending time with Stef and Eric in Georgia while attending the Masters Golf Tournament. They would also squeeze in a few rounds of golf when they visited them for Thanksgiving.

Besides farming and golfing, Elroy enjoyed dancing, playing cards, bowling and spending time with his family.  He was a man of great faith and was an active member of St. John’s Catholic Church.  He served as an usher, on the building committee, and as a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus.  Elroy was also a member of the Cenex Board, Summit Township Board, and Federal Land Bank Board.

Elroy is survived by his wife of 59 years, Beata, Wahpeton, two sons Greg (Roxy) and Rob (Julie), rural Wahpeton, two daughters, Sue (Steve) Holzbauer, Breckenridge, and Stef (Eric) Frickey, Augusta, GA. Six grandchildren: Casey, Kiley, and Jadey Meyer, Shawn Meyer (fiancé Esme Johnson), Skyler (Megan) Holzbauer, Bailey (Tanner) Thompson and one great-grandson Korbyn Holzbauer; his brothers Bud (JoAnn) Meyer, Breckenridge, Lambert (Joan) Meyer, Richville, MN and Jerry (Mary) Meyer, Wahpeton, his brother-in-laws Arlie Boll, Wahpeton, Robert (Yvette) Braun, Rochester, MN, Isaac (Socorro) Braun, Recife, Brazil and his sister-in-laws Theresa Meyer, Fargo, ND, and Alice Braun, Sioux Falls, SD. He was a favorite uncle of many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Ida, his sister and brother-in-law Rosemary and Bob Voss, sister Florence Boll, brother Lawrence Meyer, brothers-in-law Quirin and James Braun.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Catholic Church, Wahpeton or CHI Hospice. Elroy was known for his generous spirit, always giving encouragement or help whenever needed. When asked by his daughter Sue if he minded not getting credit for all his kind deeds, he replied “Those are the things you take with you to Heaven.” In honor of Elroy, please perform an act of kindness for someone when you get the chance.

Elroy's Memorial Folder