Elmo Gerrard Andreas

Elmo Andreas died Monday, November 13, 2006 at the Chippewa County - Montevideo Hospital at the age of 90.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 18, 2006 at 1:30 P.M. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Montevideo.  Rev. Larry Olson will officiate and interment will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the church for one hour before services on Saturday.

Elmo Gerrard (Olson) Andreas was born July 19, 1916 in Big Meadow Township, Williams County, ND the son of Edward and Gilda (Johnson) Olson.  He was baptized at Grong Lutheran Church on August 27, 1916.  When he was about three, his family moved back to Chippewa County, MN where he lived the majority of his life.  In 1921, his father became a naturalized American and changed the family surname from Olson to Andreas, using the Norwegian tradition of taking his father’s first name as a surname but without the “son”.  Elmo attended rural schools and the Watson Public School.  He was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church near Watson on September 7, 1930, the same day as his youngest brother, Stanley, whom he named, was baptized.  Elmo was united in marriage with Gladys Jerve on July 30, 1939 at Jevnaker Lutheran Church in Mandt Township, Chippewa County.  They were the loving parents of three daughters and many foster children.  Elmo was a farmer, carpenter, and handyman.  His skills and hard work were appreciated by many, especially his daughters and their families.  He enjoyed woodworking, playing with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the children of family and friends.  Elmo was the custodian and maintenance worker at Immanuel Lutheran Church for many years.  In 1976, they moved to Montevideo.  When Gladys was at Luther Haven, he brightened her day whenever he visited.  Elmo had an exceptionally good memory and was the family encyclopedia.  He will be greatly missed by his family and all his friends at Luther Haven.

He is survived by three daughters: Judy (and Art) Anderson of Minneapolis, MN, Joy (and Silvian) Sundrum of Golden Valley, MN, and Bonalyn Nebelung of Fridley, MN; his foster daughter, Madelyn Jane Campbell; eight grandchildren: Brent (Karen) Anderson, Jill (John) Weir, Marc Anderson, David Sundrum, Susan (Jeremy) Towle, Christopher, Jonathan, and Sara Nebelung; three foster grandchildren: Brett Olson and Kelly and Kristina Graham; seven great-grandchildren: Luke Elmo, and Abigail Anderson, William, Emma, and Grace Weir, and Ariana and Logan Towle; several foster great-grandchildren; one sister, Gladys Bacon of Bloomington, MN; one brother, Stanley (Christine) Andreas of Montevideo, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Gladys in 2000; four brothers: Norman, Kenneth, Raymond, and Herbert Andreas; one sister, Ophema Olson in infancy; and one great-granddaughter, Jada Ruth Towle.