Eldon Delbert Ehrich

Eldon Delbert Ehrich, age 88, of Elmore, died Sunday, September 11, 2016, at his home. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 16, 2016, at 10:30 AM, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Elmore, with Rev. Joel Lintner officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Elmore, Minnesota. Visitation time will be from 5:00 7:00pm Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 400 E. 14th Street in Blue Earth, and one hour before the service at the church. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.comEldon Delbert Ehrich was born January 30, 1928 to Walter and Ida (Hundt) Ehrich on the family farm in Rome Township near Elmore, Minnesota. He was baptized at St. John''s Lutheran Church in Elmore on February 19, 1928 and was confirmed there on May 11, 1941 He started his education at the rural school on the Sam Banker farm west of Elmore. He later attended District 66 School and St. John''s Parochial School graduating from Elmore High School in May 1946.After graduation, he worked for Wise Motors for several years before entering the U.S. Army on October 22, 1950, during the Korean Conflict. He served with the 4th Division in Germany for two years, when he was honorably discharged after attaining the rank of Sergeant.After returning to Elmore, he worked for Head Trucking for several years. He also worked for Martin Hardware and Mueller Furniture in the evenings installing TV antennas. Since television was new in the 1950s, and everyone who bought a TV set needed an antenna on their roofs, Eldon installed many of the TV antennas in Elmore and the surrounding rural areas.On August 29, 1954, Eldon was united in marriage to Janice Lilah Peter. They were blessed with 61 years of marriage and four children, Maren, Delmar, David and Brian.In 1955, Eldon started working for W. O. Halverson Co. Then in 1961, he and Janice purchased the company, which then became Ehrich Plumbing and Heating. The company was involved in residential and farm construction in those years. Eldon was especially proud of modernizing his customers'' homes and farms with central heat and air conditioning, modern plumbing and livestock waterers. The company is the oldest business in Elmore serving the area for 55 years.The plumbing and heating business took most of Eldon''s time, but he served on the Elmore Fire Department and the Elmore School Board. After retiring, he became a member of the Elmore Library Board and Riverview Cemetery Board. Eldon was a long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he served over many years as a trustee, elder and chairman of the congregation.Eldon was an avid reader, particularly of history. His hobbies were projects that benefited his church, community, and family including building the new bell tower of his church, the Elmore Public Library remodeling, and aiding his children and grandchildren in home construction projects. He cultivated wild flowers, fruit and nut trees, as well as grapes and raspberries in his large back yard. Eldon and Janice enjoyed feeding and watering a variety of birds from their deck.Eldon is survived by his children, Maren (Dennis) Johnson of Windom, Delmar (Camille) Ehrich of Eden Prairie, David (Elizabeth) Ehrich of Elmore, and Brian (Rae Jean) Ehrich of Chaska; grandchildren, Matthew Johnson, Joseph (Ashley) Ehrich, Naomi Johnson, Alexandra (Tommy) Ehrich, Andrew Ehrich, Michael Johnson, Etta Berkland and Madeline Ehrich; great-grandchildren, Eva, Adelaide, Clark, Job, Ingrid and Molly; and siblings, Irma Franke, and Arnold Ehrich.He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Melvin, Harlan, Willard, and Ivan, and wife Janice.