Vernon Ehlers

Vernon W. Ehlers, 91, Wheaton, MN, formerly of Boiseberg, MN, died Monday, May 10, 2010, at the Rosholt Care Center, Rosholt, SD.
Funeral services were Friday, May 14, at 10:30 a.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Monson Township, MN, with the Rev. Charles Horkey officiating.  Music was provided by organist Darlene Beyer.
Burial was in the St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Wheaton.  Pallbearers were Dean Holtz, Dennis Holtz, Larry Ehlers, Ray Ehlers, Danny Ehlers, Stacy Ehlers, Matthew Lueker, and Bill Raguse.
Visitation was Thursday, May 13, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the church and continued Friday one hour prior to the service.
Vernon Waltermer Ehlers was born May 8, 1919, to Albert and Metta (Miessner) Ehlers, in Grano, ND.  He was baptized in Grano and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Tyler, ND, in 1952.  He attended rural school through the eighth grade at Taylor Township.  Vernon met Viola Totzke at a dance in White Rock, SD.
On September 23, 1942, Vernon married Viola at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Taylor Township, ND.  To this union, three children were born, Gary, Sharon and Darus.  They lived and farmed in Taylor Township, Monson Township, and the village of Boiseberg.  Vernon also raised Hampshire pigs.  He retired in 2000 and moved to Wheaton in 2007.
Vernon belonged to the NFO and the Registered Hampshire Swine Association.  He also served as president of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Taylor Township.
Vernon enjoyed building different types of farm machinery.  He had a heat stroke when he was shocking grain and knew he would not be able to do heavy work in the sun.  Therefore he built a manure loader, a hay stacker, a rock picker and a bale loader and all of the machinery was equipped with an umbrella.
Vernon also loved his snow plane.  He took the kids to country school once in a while and went fox hunting in it.
Vernon enjoyed trips to California, where he loved to ride dune buggy with Viola's brother Dale.  He also traveled to Edwards Air Force base to watch the space shuttle come down.
Vernon's hobbies included fishing, hunting deer, and collecting Corvair cars.  He collected 17 of them throughout the years.  Vernon enjoyed working with both of his sons and would always help anyone in need.
Survivors include his wife, Viola of Wheaton; three children, Gary (Diane) Ehlers, Darus Ehlers, and Sharon (Rudy Rodriguez) Lueker all of Wheaton; seven grandchildren, Danny, Stacy, Jesse, Sarah, and Jacob Ehlers, Martin (Sirena) Lueker and Matthew Lueker; five great-grandchildren, Keaton, Shane, Dylan, Kelsey, and Jarred Ehlers; and a brother, Lyle Ehlers of Portland, OR.
Vernon was preceded in death by his brothers, Victor (Iva) Ehlers, Myron Ehlers, Ray Ehlers, and Donald (Esther) Ehlers; sisters, Verona (Ervin) Holtz, Arlene (Lyle) Mohr, and Gladys (Leonard) Rusch; a sister-in-law, Hazel Ehlers; and three grandchildren, Brian Lueker, Doug Ehlers, and John Ehlers.