Elizabeth Rolfes

Elizabeth M. Rolfes, age 95, of Freeport died peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at the Melrose Area Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, October 28 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with her son, Rev. Robert Rolfes, Bishop John Kinney, Rev. Roger Klassen, OSB, Rev. Ken Thielman, and priests of the Diocese of St. Cloud concelebrating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Christian Mothers, Sr. Citizens and Women's Catholic Order of Foresters will pray at 4 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home in Melrose.

Elizabeth M. Rolfes was born August 1, 1911 in Lake George Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Joseph and Catherine (Deters) Silbernick. She was united in marriage to Amandus A. Rolfes on April 15, 1947 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa, Minnesota. They farmed in Millwood Township, Stearns County until 1957 when the purchased and operated the Pioneer Inn in Freeport until retiring in 1975. Betty was a resident at the Pine Villa Nursing Home in Melrose. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Christian Mothers and Women's Catholic Order of Foresters.

Survivors include her children, Walter Rolfes (Lucy) of Chippewa Falls, Rev. Robert Rolfes of St. Augusta, Charles Rolfes (Andrea) of Eden Prairie, and Kenneth Silbernick (Joan) of Papillion, Nebraska; daughter-in-law, JoAnn Fynboh (Jim) of Sauk Centre; 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Catherine Silbernick; husband, Amandus Rolfes on August 5, 2001; son, Melvin Rolfes; sisters and brothers, Pauline Silbernick, Ann Schiffler, Edwin Silbernick, Irene Gerads, Frank Silbernick, Margaret Johnson, and Bernadine VanHeel.

Casket bearers will be Mike, Dale, Brandon, Gary and Brent Rolfes and Jeff Berggren. Cross bearer will be Sara Rolfes. Scripture bearer will be Mary Jo Rolfes-Lo. Honorary bearers will be Christian Mothers and Women's Catholic Order of Foresters.