Elvin Lewis Sunde, 1909-1995

SUNDE MATHISON LILLAND PETERSON KROSSCHELL OLSON

Posted By: Connie K. Hanson (email)
Date: 6/17/2014 at 22:51:01

Elvin Sunde, 86, of rural Estherville, passed away at the Good Samaritan Center on Nov. 19, 1995.

Elvin Lewis Sunde was born on Jan. 10, 1909, to Thomas and Gertrude (Mathison) Sunde at the farm home northeast of Estherville, IA, of his parents, on his mother's 40th birthday. His father immigrated to Emmet County from Norway and purchased the farm with his brother, Charles, from 1885 and 1888. Elvin attended Sunde Valley School and graduated from Estherville High School in 1927. Elvin married Sylvia Lilland on Oct. 10, 1934. He spent his entire life farming the family farm. Four children were born to this marriage: Charles, Jean, Thomas and Connie.

Elvin was very active in the community affairs of Emmet County. He served for many years as Emmet County Farm Bureau President and served 36 years as Director of the Federal Land Bank Association for the Omaha region. He also sat on the board of directors of the Production Credit Association and the Farm Service Cooperative. He promoted good soil conservation practices and at one time housed a garden test plot for Iowa State University. Through his tireless efforts as a farmer and a community servant, he won the honor of "Master Farmer" in the State of Iowa in 1956. He was proud to receive a "Century Farm" award which recognized families who owned the same farm for 100 years or more. He was an active member of the Palestine Lutheran Church until it closed, and later a member of the Estherville Lutheran Church. He loved to sing and perform on stage whenever the opportunity arose and was blessed with a good sense of humor. He had a keen interest in politics and served as election judge for Ellsworth Township for many years.

Elvin is survived by his wife, Sylvia, two sons, Charles and Thomas, two daughters, Jean Peterson and Connie Krosschell, and six grandchildren, Beau, Abby and Ben Sunde, Sonia and Nathan Peterson, and Rocky Krosschell. He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Gertrude Sunde, a sister Hazel Sunde, half-sister, Sadie Olson, and two half-brothers, Amos Olson and Torkel Olson.

Funeral service was held at Estherville Lutheran Church, with interment at Palestine Lutheran Cemetery in rural Dolliver.

(Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Chapel)