Elwood Duehn

Elwood Nevin Duehn was born on June 15th 1982, being a big boy of 12pounds & 24 inches the Brookings South Dakota hospital is where he made his entrance. He passed away January 1st 2012 at Tyler Healthcare Center, in Tyler MN. He was 29 years old.

He is survived by his wife Liza “Gertis” Wilde-Duehn of Lake Benton, Minnesota; parents, Mickey & Jeanine of Tyler, Minnesota; older brother Brooks (and Kathy) and their son, Maddox of Luverne, Minnesota; sister, Serenity A.K.A. Joie (and Chris T) and their daughter, Mikki of Springfield, Illinois; eldest brother, Levi of Minneapolis Minnesota, and Meleek.

Elwood, known as Woody to friends, lived a rich and colorful life filled with skateboarding, pets, video games, computers, motorcycles, and talking smack filled with tomfoolery and ballyhoo. Woody grew up living out most of his legendry legacy on a rural homestead North of Lake Benton. In his younger days he was an avid cow fisherman on the farm, an imaginative game he and his sister shared. Also, growing up he was a child with the most vivid of imaginations, inventing what every crazy thing he could think up, with whatever he could find, and as always, being a momma’s boy.

As Elwood’s game got stronger with age, so did his interests deepen and multiply. Skateboarding was a huge part of his life. This meant, “shredding” everywhere, and always “Bustn’ Big”. He also loved snowboarding with his 2 older brothers Brook’s and Levi as well as the many faces he meet and rode with along the way. Woody was well known for his front side “skillz” and chairlift snow throwing antics. He also loved going to shows whether it was a local or national act. Elwood never out grew his passion for cartoons and anime. He was a very mischievous teenager, doing whatever he wanted, when he wanted. By doing this “El’ Wiggity” went to many places such as Duluth, Moose Lake, Lino Lakes, St. Cloud, Sheldon IA, and Appleton, where he received his GED.

Few people knew of his artistic tendencies, a means of coping with boredom and isolation. Or his ability to fix almost anything, from the vacuum to tinkering for days on end with a computer, Mac or PC. He loved to pick little things up from rocks on the beach for hours, and was one never able to resist a gumball machine with toys in it.

Elwood met his Gertis in the summer of 2009, in Luverne. It wasn’t love at first sight because he was afraid to look at her. They dated for some time before moving in together. They spent their time in Luverne tending their first garden, and just being in love with each other. The couple moved to Lake Benton in 2010 where they bought their first home the twosome were looking forward to working on their “fixer upper” The pair found a mutual love for cats, and referred to them as their children (Meleek, Kumar, Felica, a black kitten named Ray, and his least favorite, Coven.) They were married on June 17, at the sculpture garden at the Walker in Minneapolis. G.E.R.T.I.S. = Girl Elwood Really Thinks Is Special.