Elmer Mindeman

Elmer Louis Mindeman, 94, of Barney, ND, passed away on December 16, 2021, at Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo, ND.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at 11 am, with visitation one hour prior to service at Peace Lutheran Church in Barney, ND.  Rev. Brock Schmeling will officiate the service.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.

Elmer was born on September 6, 1927, in Breckenridge, MN to August and Anne (Willi) Mindeman, the oldest of three boys.  He grew up on a farm in Antelope Township until he was 14 and then later moved with his family to the current family farm northwest of Barney, where he resided until July of this year when entered the hospital and then the nursing home in Fargo.

He attended Antelope Consolidated School, riding in a horse-drawn school bus.   He also attended North Dakota State School of Science before enlisting into the Army.  He was trained as a medical technician in the Army and helped take care of wounded service members returning from WW2.  Elmer returned home to farm in 1947, with his dad on the family farm.  He was united in marriage to Dorothy Starin, on June 15, 1952, in Wyndmere, ND. In later years, he enjoyed being able to farm with his son, Noel and had the ability to be able to fix or make anything.  He was also employed by the FSA for over 10 years measuring farmer’s grain bins and land acres for compliance and was a school bus driver for 9 years with the Wyndmere School District.

Elmer and Dorothy wintered in Texas for several years where they enjoyed many activities, such as shuffleboard.  Elmer loved to play cards, especially whist and “Barney Rummy”, he enjoyed collecting antique cars, and was an expert gardener, spending many hours tending his plants.  He was a life-long member of Peace Lutheran Church in Barney, serving on the finance committee and as an elder and trustee, and was wholly devoted to the Lord.

Elmer is survived by his sons, Craig (Jolette) Mindeman, Fargo, ND, Noel (Luann) Mindeman, Barney, ND, and Trent (Dawn) Mindeman, Lincoln, ND; grandchildren, Joshua (Abigail) Mindeman, Fargo, ND, Noah Mindeman, Minneapolis, MN, Matthew Mindeman, Minneapolis, MN, Nathan (Shannon) Mindeman, Jacksonville, NC, Kristin (Mike) Volkman, Apple Valley, MN, Kari (Matthew) Treadwell, Jonestown, TX, Daryle Mindeman, Lincoln, ND, Nicole (Peter) Bartlett, Bottineau, ND, Durant (Sydney) Mindeman, Bismarck, ND;  5 great-grandsons, Andrew and Zachary Mindeman, Louis and William Mindeman, and Edward Bartlett; brothers, James (Fay) Mindeman, Ashley, ND Harold (Karen) Mindeman, Grand Forks, ND; sister-in-law, Donna (Harvey) Sell, Fargo, ND; and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, and his parents.

Elmer's Memorial Folder