Gordon Leroy Eliason

Gordon Eliason, formerly of the Big Bend area, died on Saturday, July 6, 2002 at the Appleton Nursing Home at the age of 74.  Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002at 1:30 P.M. at Big Bend Lutheran Church with Rev. David DeMars officiating.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be Tuesday afternoon and evening and with the family from 6 - 7:30 P.M. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo.
Gordon LeRoy Eliason was born on October 17, 1927 in West Bank Township of Swift Co., Mn to Bernt and Petra (Torgelson) Eliason.  He was baptized at West Bank Lutheran Church and confirmed at Big Bend Lutheran Church.  He attended rural schools and graduated from Appleton High School in 1945.  He served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict.  Following his discharge, he worked in Milan as a mechanic before returning to the family farm to farm.  In later years he also worked as a gravel truck driver.  He was a member of Big Bend Lutheran Church, American Legion Post #359 of Milan and VFW Post #380 of Montevideo.  He was an accomplished accordion player and played with the RS Combo and Big Bend Barn Dance Gang for a number of years.  He was interested in his family, especially in the activities of his nieces and nephews.
He is survived by five brothers and sisters: Verna Olson of Montevideo; Beatrice Steinke and her husband Bodo of Appleton, MN; Raymond Eliason and his wife Kathleen of Roseau, MN; Erma Catlin of Seattle, WA and Elmer Eliason and his wife Betty of Chaska, MN; 12 nephews; 15 nieces 7 step-nephews; and 1 step- niece.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Eudell Anderson and Marilyn Thompson; a brother, Lowell Eliason; brothers- in - law: Ernest Anderson; Elmer Ostby; Tony Thompson; Melvin Olson and Lorne Catlin; a sister-in-law, Hilda Eliason; and a nephew, Timothy Ostby.