Elroy Dickhoff

Elroy Benny Dickhoff, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, departed from this world on October 2, 2023, at the age of 89 after a brief illness.  Born on September 1, 1934 in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, Elroy was the son of the late George Walter and Elda Emily (Hollatz) Dickhoff.

Elroy attended country school in Parkers Prairie through the 8th grade and at the age of 14 began running the family farm in Effington Township.  He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church.

On April 6th, 1962, Elroy married Ilene Marion Langren in Peaver, South Dakato.  They built a life together having 4 boys. In 1963 they moved to Rothsay, Minnesota, where Elroy was the feed manager at Velo Turkey Farm for over 3 decades.  In 1994 Elroy retired and he and Ilene moved into Pelican Rapids, Minnesota where they lived until Ilene passed away in 2015.  In 2015 he moved to Bethany Senior apartments in Alexandria Minnesota where he enjoyed the company of 2 of his sisters who also lived there for a time.  He was currently residing at Fairway Pines Assisted Living in Sauk Centre Minnesota.

Elroy's genuine smile and captivating blue eyes were noticed by everyone he met and even strangers would comment on his good looks.  He loved cars, especially Fords and he passed on that strong gene to all of his boys.  Their blood literally runs Ford blue.  In his older years he loved being picked up just to go for a ride with any of his sons that often ended with a cone at Dairy Queen.  He enjoyed watching planes land and take off at the airports and going to air shows but his favorite place was watching the ships come in at the Duluth harbor.  He loved being near water and was able to take two trips to Florida where he could sit and watch the surf and boats.

He and Ilene loved going to listen to old time music at the threshing festival in Rollag, Minnesota and attended dances when they were young where they would polka.  They rarely missed an episode of Mollie B Polka Party, and a favorite performer was Daniel O'Donnell.

He raised his family to know the Lord and they were active members of South Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rothsay.  He helped at the church doing custodial duties.

Elroy will forever be treasured in the hearts of his surviving sons, Curtis Dickhoff of Pelican Rapids, MN, Jeff Dickhoff of Elrosa, MN, Bruce (Cali) Dickhoff of Freeport, MN and, Brian (Rhonda) Evans of Moorhead, MN; three grandchildren, Jacob (Teresa), Grace (Justin) and Lexi (Justin); nine great grandchildren, Thea, Weston, Clay, Connor, Vera, Sally, Maxwell, Winston and Sophia; a sister, Dorothy Ziesemer; along with numerous family and friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Ilene Dickhoff; parents, George and Elda Dickhoff; brother, Erwin Dickhoff and sisters, LuAnn Wagner and Alice Meissner. 

Funeral services to celebrate the life of Elroy B. Dickhoff will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 11:00 am., at the South Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rothsay, with a visitation beginning two hours prior to the service. Pastor Phil Tobin will officiate. A committal service will take place after the service at First Lutheran Cemetery in Battle Lake, MN.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls.

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