Elmer Sorensen

Elmer Sorensen

Sioux Falls- Elmer Sorensen, 86, died Thursday, January 1, 2015, at his home surrounded by his family. Memorial service will begin at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 9, 2015, at First Lutheran Church. The family will be present to greet friends for visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursday, January 8 at George Boom Funeral Home in Sioux Falls.

Elmer was born in Tyler, Minnesota, on August 14, 1928, to Rasmus and Clara (Hansen) Sorensen. He attended the Tyler Public School, and after working for a time with his father in construction, enrolled at Mankato State Teachers College, graduating in 1953. He married Anita Rasmussen on August 23 of the same year. In September, Elmer entered the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Anita joined him for graduation the following February, and during the next four years of active duty, they lived throughout the country, with Elmer seeing tours in both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. After being released to inactive status in 1957, he was employed by the Marshall (Minn.) Public Schools to teach physics as well as other science and math classes. Retiring in 1986, he remained active in education as a volunteer and also as adjunct faculty at Southwest Minnesota State University. He maintained an association with the Navy throughout his career, retiring from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1980.

Elmer and Anita lived in Marshall for 44 years, relocating to Sioux Falls in 2001. They became active members at First Lutheran Church. An avid woodworker, Elmer spent many hours in his basement workshop, designing and making many different items. These include the crosses that have been gifted at baptisms and weddings at First Lutheran and which have found their way around the world. He was also an active volunteer with 4th and 5th grade students at Robert Frost Elementary School.

Memorials are preferred to the First Lutheran Music Ministry or to the Parish Nurse Ministry. The latter would continue to fund the joint ministry of Elmer and daughter Sue in providing the piano CD that is included in the kit given to those afflicted with a chronic disease.

Throughout life, Elmer remained connected to his family roots in Denmark, visiting relatives there several times as well as entertaining them in his own home. His loving family, grateful for having shared his life, wisdom, and sense of humor, include three children: Nanci Hayward (Michael), Dunwoody, Ga.; Grant (Maureen), Worthington, Minn.; and Susan Severson (Eric), Sioux Falls, S.D.; seven grandchildren: Noelle Hayward, Tonia Bryant (Rick), Peter Severson, Christina Sorensen, Andrew Severson (Megan), David Sorensen, and Matt Sorensen; and a sister, Alta Lambie, Kennewick, Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents, three siblings, and his wife, Anita.

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