Caroline Erp, of Montevideo, died on Friday, January 9, 2015 at the Luther Haven Nursing Home at the age of 92.
Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Christopher Lieske officiating. Interment will be in Terrace Lawn Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 12-2 P.M. before the service on Wednesday at the church.
Caroline Louise (Streich) Erp was born on May 26, 1922 at the Streich Family Farm outside of Marietta, MN to Arthur and Agnes (Hiepler) Streich. She was baptized on June 5, 1922 at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Arena Township in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. She was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church on June 14, 1936. Caroline attended country school until she reached 8th grade then attended Marietta High School and graduated May 29, 1941. On June 9, 1944 Caroline was united in marriage to Warren Erp. After their marriage, Warren and Caroline lived in the Marietta and Madison area until 1955, when they moved to the Clarkfield and Boyd area. Throughout their married life, Warren and Caroline farmed and milked cows. After Warren’s death in 1970, Caroline sold their dairy herd and machinery but continued to live on the farm near Boyd. In 1982, she purchased a house in Montevideo and eventually sold the farm. Besides being a homemaker and mother, she also cooked and waitressed for 7 years then worked at MTI of Montevideo for 27 years and retired from there at the age of 77. She took great pride in the fact that she was able to work until this age. Through the years, Caroline kept vegetable and flower gardens and she enjoyed canning and sharing the fruits of her labor with others. Fishing was also a favorite pastime and she loved fishing with family members which included a yearly stay at a northern Minnesota lake with her siblings and their spouses. Caroline found strength in her Lutheran faith and over the years was active in various church activities such as being a greeter and volunteering. Caroline was most proud of her family and she found much enjoyment in spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In 2007, Caroline had a household auction and moved into Brookside Manor Assisted Living in Montevideo. There she enjoyed visiting and playing cards with the other residents. Due to failing health, Caroline moved to Luther Haven Nursing Home in 2008, and resided there until her death.
Caroline is survived by her children: Carol (Rodney) Davis of Starbuck, MN, Kenneth (Carol) Erp of Dawson, MN, Beverly Thaves of Alexandria, MN, David (Paulette) Erp of Hazel Run, MN, Susan (George) Greseth of Jupiter, FL, Rodney (Barbara) Erp of Midlothian, TX, and Roland (Deniese) Erp of Morris, MN; 18 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; sisters: Doreen Schultz of Revillo, SD, Frieda Johnson of Revillo, SD, and Elna (Doug) Jerde of Rochester, MN; sister-in-law, Marilyn Streich of Ortonville, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Warren; son-in-law, James Thaves; great-grandson, Austin Kruse; brothers: Alvin, Gerhardt, and Herbert Streich; sisters-in-law: Grace and Gladys Streich; and brothers-in-law: George Johnson and Maurice Schultz.