Genevieve Erpelding

Genevieve Mary Erpelding...

On Wednesday evening and at 10:30 AM Thursday, April 19th, we will gather to celebrate the life of Genevieve Mary Erpelding, who died on Monday, April 16, 2012, at the Tyler Healthcare Center.

Gen was born to George and Gertrude (Erdman) Armstrong on July 24, 1916 on the homestead near Newell, South Dakota. In attendance were a nurse and two neighbor ladies. On September 7, 1916, she was baptized into the Catholic faith by Father O’Hara. Genevieve started school at a Butte County Country School where she graduated eighth grade in 1931. The family moved back to a farm near Lismore where Gen started high school at St. Anthony Catholic School, and she graduated in June, 1935. It was in Lismore that Gen met and married the love of her life, Leo Erpelding. The couple married on October 27, 1936. They began their life on a farm near Lismore for a short time before moving to Woodstock where they farmed and raised their family of two girls and three boys. The couple enjoyed many friends and a favorite past time was always dancing and music. Many evenings were spent at the Ritz in Lismore and the Hollyhock in Hatfield as well as Sunday afternoon ballgames followed with area families gathering at the Diamond Corner.

Gen was a gentle and kind woman known for her good cooking and baking. Many a threshing and corn shelling crew were treated to her homemade treats. In later years the grandchildren loved to sit at Grandma’s table and have toast and jelly that they were allowed to dunk in coffee or to have a fresh fried donut with a big glass of milk. Once she stopped baking the grandchildren always knew that Grandma would let them eat just the middle of the Oreo cookies.

As Gen’s health failed she moved into Tyler with her son, LeRoy (Pat) and family. After nearly two years and continued declining health she lived at Danebod Assisted Living and then Sunrise Manor in Tyler. Gen was loved by staff for her welcoming smile when they would meet in the hall or come to her room to care for her. And anyone who visited knew that when the music would start Gen would head down to tap her toes in time to the music and often sing along enthusiastically.

Surviving Gen are: Elaine (Tom) Probst of Fulda, Lloyd (Carolyn-Kedo) of Woodstock, LeRoy (Pat-Carol) of Woodstock, Donna (Jerry) Platt of Lake Wilson, daughter-in-law, Donita Place of Blue Earth; 16 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; a niece, Janice (Jeff) Mulder; brother-in-law, Jerome (Frances) Erpelding of Adrian; nephew, Jerry (Sherry) Erpelding; many cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Gen will be welcomed home by her husband, Leo, who died August 14, 1997; her oldest son, Merle; two sisters, Dorothy Stoffel and Velma Armstrong; her parents; and a great-granddaughter, Rachel.