Robert Lerfald

Robert Lerfald, age 81, of Erskine, MN, passed away on Friday, June 29th, at his home with his family by his side. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 7th, at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine with the Rev. Michelle Miller and Rev. Timothy Lundeen officiating. Interment will be in Saron Lutheran Cemetery, rural Erskine, at a later date. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Military honors will be provided by the Bailey-Throne American Legion Post #596 of Erskine. Arrangements are with the Carlin Funeral Home of Erskine and messages of condolence may be sent at www.carlinfuneral.com.Robert Milton Lerfald was born August 19, 1936 at home in rural Erskine to parents Carl & Anna (Jorde) Lerfald. He was baptized & confirmed in the Lutheran Faith & spent his childhood on the farm. He attended country school for one year then attended Erskine High School & graduated in 1954. He was a member of the Methodist Church in Erskine & held several office positions. He helped farm with horses until his father purchased his first tractor. He worked at Garden Valley Telephone Company as a lineman for several years then worked for Erie Mining Co in Aurora MN. He was in the military with the US Army from 1959-1963. After basic training in Ford Ord. CA he was stationed in Germany as an engineer in field generators. After the service he returned to Erie Mining Co for 10 yrs. He purchased the adjoining farm to where he grew up & raised sheep for several years. He then became an electrical contractor & owned his own company Lerfald Electric, Plumbing & Heating Inc for 35 yrs. After retirement in 2000 he spent 10 years as a volunteer driver for RCC Crookston driving patients to & from medical appointments. Bob had a love of airplanes & was a member of the Erskine Flying Club. He earned his private pilot's license at the age of 19. He enjoyed several years of flying & also some accidents but came thru without a scratch. On his 65th birthday he had the experience of a lifetime when he had the honor of flying in the WW II Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey". He said it was a very emotional flight. Bob served as a board member for the Minnesota Electrical Association & board member & chairman for Pioneer Memorial Care Center, Erskine. He was a member of the Gideons International & a member of American Legion Post 596 where he at one time held the position of commander for several years. Bob retired in 2000 & enjoyed woodworking, cutting wood, remodeling & lawn care. His biggest enjoyment was his Kubota tractor with bucket. He invented 1,001 uses for the bucket. He enjoyed traveling & had been to Europe, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Mexico & numerous states in the US. Bob was a very kind, generous & loving man who had a deep faith in God which he practiced daily. His favorite scripture being Hebrews 13:8. Bob married Lola Ramberg in 1963. Lola passed away in 1982. In 1983 he married Cherie Willoughby. They settled on the farm & besides traveling cross country they enjoyed many years of peace & relaxation working together on their many projects. He loved getting together for family celebrations & enjoyed spending time with grandchildren attending games, flying kites, going for walks & working together. Bob built a bobsled that he pulled behind his tractor & gave sleigh rides to family & friends every winter on the many trails he created thru the woods. He loved nature & waited each spring to hear the return of the sand hill cranes, geese & ducks. Of course there was always the deer raiding the garden & bear snooping around the bird feedeers. Also a joy was entertaining family & friends in the little A-frame cabin back in the woods. This became a favorite place for family & friends for a place to stay. Bob put up a courageous battle after years of health problems. In the end the AML Luekemia & congestive heart failure were too much for him & he gave up his earthly life to join his heavenly Father. Bob is survived by his loving wife of 34 yrs Cherie, son Scott (Darla) Willoughby of Fargo ND, daughter Danielle Willoughby of Erskine MN, son Steve Ramberg of Alaska & daughter-in-law Hazel Jones of Moorhead MN. He is also survived by grandchildren. Cody, Dylan & Alexis Willoughby of Fargo, Rian Bergh of Erskine, Holly DeVries of Valley City ND, Wendy Vorderbruggen of Bagley MN, nephew Gary Lerfald & wife Lisa of Denver CO, niece Darla Figoli & husband Mike of Denver CO, several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews & cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Carl & Anna Lerfald, wife Lola Lerfald, daughter Collette McMillan, brother Gordon Lerfald, sister Gertrude Johnson, sister-in-law Lila Lerfald, brothers-in- law Roy Johnson, Ralph Viall, Lee Viall & several aunts & uncles. Blessed be his memory.