Elmer Boike

Elmer Boike died Monday, March 16, 2020 at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 93.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Elmer Albert Boike was born on November 27, 1926 in Crate Township, Chippewa County to Harm and Hilda (Heikes) Boike. He was baptized and confirmed at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clara City.   He went to country grade school in Chippewa County and graduated from Maynard High School in 1945. After graduation, Elmer joined the United States Navy and served from 1946 to 1947.

On December 7, 1947, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Gottschalk at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montevideo. In March of 1948, they started farming in Rosewood Township and in 1954 moved to Mandt Township. Elmer farmed for 46 years. They had dairy cows for 4 years then changed to feeder cattle, pigs and sheep. They raised 2500 laying hens for hatching eggs, which they sold to Allstate Hatchery in Willmar, MN for broilers. Elmer did custom combining and spraying besides farming. He also raised and sold feeder pigs. He enjoyed farm life. Elmer and Dorothy had their first lake home on, on Lobster Lake near Garfield, MN and then moved to a lake home on Lake Ida near Alexandria, MN where they spent most of their weekends in the summers from 1978-1985. Then in 1992, Elmer and Dorothy moved from the farm into town.

In 1990, they started going to Paradise South Retirement Park in Mercedes, Texas, where they had a mobile home for 14 years. They spent a lot of time with Dorothy’s sister Ethel and husband Roger Bjorndahl who lived in the park. They usually spent 3 months there in the winter. They were always busy playing cards, bingo, shuffleboard, horseshoe, beanbag, mini golf, attending plays, and day bus trips to listen to bands from Branson. They would also go with friends on day trips to Padre Island and Mexico.

Elmer always looked forward to playing cards during the winter month with nine neighborhood couples. He enjoyed traveling, going to Dinner Theatres and taking bus tours with Dorothy. He loved planting and taking care of the flowers at his home in Montevideo. Elmer loved spending time with Dorothy at Luther Haven going to church, social events and attending bible study when she was there from 2012-2015.

In 2017, Elmer moved into Brookside Manor in Montevideo. He loved living there, planting and caring for the flowers, and playing bingo and dominos. He was also the treasurer of the Brookside resident association.

His interests included playing cards and games with the kids and grandkids, taking care of the flowers, watching the birds, visiting with friends and neighbors, taking drives to see how the crops were doing; and tinkering in the garage or shed fixing things. He loved watching his grandchildren play sports and looked forward to getting together with family during the holidays. He was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan and enjoyed watching basketball and baseball. He was very active at St. Paul Lutheran Church, on the church boards and was on different committees. He also was involved with Chippewa County Sunnyside 4-H club. Elmer was involved as a leader and member of the Minnesota Farmers Union and Chippewa County Pork Producers. Also a member of the D.A.V and American Legion.

He is survived by children: Rowland (Barbara) Boike of Montevideo, Deborah (Jeff) Dahl of Montevideo, Mark (Diane) Boike of Deerwood, MN, Brenda (David) Meyers of Plymouth, MN; eight grandchildren: Dustin (special friend Heather and her daughter Avery) Gilbertson, Eric (Stacey)
Boike, Nicole (Brad) Knight, Tricia (Cole) Montgomery, Michael (Molly) Boike, Kristopher (Emily) Boike, Zachary and Aaron Meyers; grand daughter-in-law, Sue Gilbertson; step grandchildren Tricia and Matt McPhie and family, Amanda and Jason Plevell and family, Kati and Travis Birhanzl and family; eleven great-grandchildren: Paige, Alex and Sam Gilbertson, Kaden, Carson, Ellie and Drew Boike, Maliha Knight, Dane, Sig and Ryan Montgomery; step-great grandchildren, Garret (special friend Samantha) Rodeberg, Leah (Jordan) Lehtola:  step-great -great grandchildren, Elijah Rodeberg, Greyson Lehtola, and Ayla Rodeberg; sister-in-laws; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy; brothers, Ray, Louise, Herman, Johnny and Art Boike; sisters, Getrude Klaassen and Carrie Andresen; grandson Ryan Gilbertson; great-granddaughter Hannah Gilbertson; his parents-in-law, Carl and Augusta Gottschalk; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Memorials are preferred to St. Paul Lutheran church.