Elaine J. Sperr

Funeral Services for Elaine Sperr of Herman will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman with Rev. Cheryl A. Berg officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, September 13th at Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman and will continue at the church on Saturday one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Herman.

Elaine Jeanette Sperr passed away Monday, September 9, 2024 at the Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls, MN. Elaine was born November 9th, 1963 in Morris, MN to Irving and Doris Sperr. She was 60 years old. 

Elaine was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman, MN. She attended school at Herman-Norcross Community School, graduating in 1982. She then attended Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN graduating in 1984. 

Elaine or “Lainey” or “E” as family and friends addressed her, was the youngest of the four Sperr children. She grew up just south of Herman on the farm. She thoroughly loved farm life and spent many days doing all the things that farm kids do. She especially loved gardening.

Her son, Dustin, arrived in 1984 and now she was also known as “Mom”. Dusty was the center of her world and she celebrated all of his achievements with much enthusiasm and a great amount of pride – and rightfully so.

In 1993 she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. In her twenties, she was able to work outside the home but as the disease progressed, she did childcare for friends’ children and nieces and nephews at home. She was a loving caregiver to her daycare kids.

Elaine was a ‘creative’ and loved to do crafts and a lot of crocheting. She completed many afghans, given as gifts, and also did crocheting with fine thread. She completed a lace tablecloth large enough to cover her mother’s round dining table. Later she enjoyed painting and doing large jigsaw puzzles.

When not crafting, Harlequin romance novels filled some of her time. She also enjoyed catching up with friends and relatives via phone calls. She liked to be “in the know” about social goings-on. She made many, many ‘pop balls’ (popcorn balls) and cut out cookies to be consumed by her family during the holiday season.

As the MS progressed, Lainey’s mobility became more limited. She lived at home with Irving and Doris until Irving passed away in 2013 and then became a resident of Barrett Care Center. She was a resident there until her death. 

Elaine is survived by her son, Dr. Dustin Sperr, her siblings Doyle (Jodi) Sperr, Sherry (Ron) Volker, Claude (Sally) Sperr, and remaining uncle Gail (Jeanne) Sperr. She will also be missed by many nephews and nieces and their families, lots of cousins and a wide swath of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Irving and Doris Sperr both sets of grandparents and all her aunts and uncles except for Gail and Jeanne.

The family requests memorials be given in Elaine's memory to the National MS Society or Grant County Humane Society in Elbow Lake.

Pedersen Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements for Elaine.