Elmer Gerding

Elmer B. Gerding, age 90 of Meire Grove, died peacefully Thursday, December 10, 2009 at St. Michael's Nursing Home in Sauk Centre.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 19 at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Greenwald with Rev. Tom Becker officiating and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Inurnment will be in St. Francis de Sales Cemetery in Belgrade.

Friends may call one hour prior to the services at church.

Elmer Ben Gerding was born January 12, 1919 in Elrosa, Minnesota to Hubert and Rose (Deters) Gerding. On August 31, 1943 he was united in marriage to Armella Schoenberg in Spring Hill, Minnesota. Elmer worked as a truck driver for Belgrade Superior Feeds for 40 years. Elmer was an avid card player and loved to socialize with his family and friends.

He was a member of St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Greenwald and St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Belgrade.

Survivors include his dear friend and companion, Rosemary Dickhaus of Meire Grove; daughter, Mary Margaret (John) Krieger of Wheaton, Illinois; grandchildren, Mary Kathryn Krieger and Matthew Krieger; sister, Lillian Schoenberg of Greenwald; brothers, Raymond (Mary Ann) Gerding of Cold Spring and Reuben (Valeria) Gerding of Elrosa; sisters-in-law, Tillie Gerding of Cold Spring and Rita Gerding of Melrose.

Elmer was preceded in death by his wife Armella Gerding; infant daughter Alice Gerding; parents; brothers, Wilfred and Robert Gerding; and two infant sisters, Bertha and Bernice Gerding.

Serving as urn bearer will be his brothers, Raymond and Reuben Gerding. Cross bearer will be his grandson, Matthew Krieger and scripture bearer will be his granddaughter, Mary Kathryn Krieger. Honorary bearers will be Phil Meyer, Artie Thull, Al Bertram, Virgil Marthaler, Joey Worms, Raymond Worms, Gene Olmscheid, and the Gerding Nephews, Dan Schoenberg, Jim Schoenberg, Brian Schoenberg, Mike Gerding, Mark Gerding, Scott Gerding, Hubert Gerding, David Gerding, Keith Gerding, Chad Gerding, Randy Gerding, and Perry Gerding.