Date of Birth: September 7, 1927
Date of Death: August 17, 2022
Elsie (nee Schofer) Mass of St. Paul Lutheran Home, Melville and formerly of Lemberg, entered her eternal rest on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022 at St. Peter’s Hospital at the age of 94 years.
Elsie was born on her grandparents’ farm south of Lemberg on Sept. 7, 1927 to Hilda (nee Krieger) and Wilhelm Schofer. They lived on a farm in Westview where Wilhelm was already raising eight children as a widower. But not only did she have all of these older half-siblings, her mom and dad also had 10 more children after her. She attended school in Melville until she was 15, at which time she started cooking for her dad’s crew while they were on the road.
She met her husband Leo, who lived on a farm across the road from her grandparents, and they were married on Oct. 29, 1944 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Melville. They eventually settled down on the farm at Section 29 – Township 20 – Range 9 – West of the 2nd and started a family. They had three children, Judy, Dennis and Larry, and made their living farming. Elsie also worked outside of the home. She loved to cook and to feed people and worked at Key’s Café and the B&B for many years.
Leo and Elsie built a house and moved to town in 1976. However, they continued to play a big role in the farm. In 1991, Elsie lost her beloved husband Leo. This left a huge hole in her life, which was filled by her family who she would cook lunch for every day. She started going to dances with other ladies from town and met her friend Dennis Lindh, who became a roommate and companion.
Predeceased by her parents, Hilda and Wilhelm Schofer; brothers, Theodore, Emil, Edward; and sister, Helen Neuls, husband Leopold, friend Dennis Lindh, daughter Judy Myers, and daughter-in-law Patricia Mass.
Left to mourn her passing are sons, Dennis (Sharon) and Larry (Cheryl); granddaughters, Tracy Urschel (Paul), LeeAnne Vandermeulen (Darcy), Tara Orellana and Stacey Owen (David); grandsons, Dean Kalynuk (Leah), Tim Mass, and Tom Mass (Janelle); great-grandchildren, Patrick, Brittany, Brandi, Tyler, Jeremy, Carly, Darian, Averee, Cruz, Laila, William, Victor, Lucas, and Bianca; great-great-grandchildren, Sage, Hunter, Peyton and Summer; brothers, Lenard (Marsha), Alfred (Helen), Clarence (Shelley); and sisters, Olga Mueller (Ozzie), Lil Scott (Ken) and Hilda Brown.
The funeral service was held on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022 at 2 p.m. from Trinity Lutheran Church in Lemberg with Rev. Brian Mee officiating.
Arrangements were by Bailey’s Funeral Home, Melville.
