Victor Elfering

Victor J. "Vic" Elfering, age 82 of St. Rosa, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma on Friday, March 15, 2013 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11a.m. Tuesday, March 19 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the Lion's Club, St. Joseph's Men's Society, Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion Post 101 at 7 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Victor Joseph Elfering was born March 2, 1931 in Freeport, Minnesota to Leo and Mary (Scherping) Elfering. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in Freeport. Vic enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for four years during the Korean War at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He married Evelyn Blenker on September 15, 1953 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. The couple would have celebrated 60 years of marriage in September. Vic purchased Silbernick's Bar in St. Rosa in 1960. He owned the bar for 29 years until his retirement in 1987.

He was a member and usher at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa, a member of St. Joseph's Men's Society. Vic was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 101 in Melrose and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1633 who honored him as family of the month. He was a member of the St. Rosa Lion's Club and was the recipient of the Melvin Jones award. Vic was an organizer of the Roving Hillbilly Snowmobile Club and serviced as president and was an avid rider for many years.

Vic loved his family and spent time with them at their cabin on Big Birch Lake. He had a passion for fishing and spearing, and enjoyed taking his grandkids boating, skiing, and tubing. Vic hosted many fish fries for his family and friends at the lake. He was a people person and like everyone to be around him. He also played cards with friends in card clubs and enjoyed family get-togethers. He also enjoyed traveling to places all over the U.S. and overseas and especially the fishing trips to Lake of the Woods with his friends. In later years, he settled on going on casino trips.

Survivors include his loving wife, Evelyn "Evie" Elfering of Melrose; children, Jeffery (Pat) Elfering of Melrose, Daniel Elfering of Freeport, Brian Elfering of Alexandria, Pam (Chuck) Barth of Melrose, Sherry (Tim) Grittner of Swanville, and Dean (Jeanne) Elfering of St. Rosa; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren;
brothers and sisters, Rita Gerding of Melrose, Irene Leukam of Melrose, Val Elfering of Melrose, and Ervin (Geri) Elfering of Sauk Centre.

Vic was preceded in death by his parents; son, Bruce Elfering; daughter-in-law, Rita Elfering; sister, Alice Kleve; brothers and sisters-in-law, Arnold and Margaret Elfering, Ralph Leukam, Bob Gerding, and Dick Kleve.

Serving as casket bearers will be Chris Barth, Josh Elfering, Erik Elfering, Adam Dougherty, Ryan Elfering, and Jordan Barth. Serving as cross bearer will be Hanna Elfering and scripture bearer will be Natasha Elfering. Honorary bearers will be the Lion's Club and gift bearers will be Simone Grittner and Hailey Dougherty.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Pavilion Fund at CentraCare Health Systems, Melrose.