James "Jim" Elbers

STEEN, MN James "Jim" Elbers age 77 of Steen, MN died Saturday, March 27, 2010 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 31st at The Reformed Church of Steen with Rev. Dan Kuik, officiating.Burial with military honors will follow in the Eastside Cemetery at Steen. Visitation will be Tuesday from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills. James Elbers was born November 2, 1932, at Steen, MN the son of John and Helen (Hoff) Elbers. He was baptized and made confession of faith at The Steen Reformed Church. Jim received his education at Steen Grade School and graduated from Hills High School in 1951. He also attended the National School of Aeronautics in Kansas City, MO. He entered the military on February 9, 1953, serving in Japan doing work with radio and telephone. In February 1955, he was honorably discharged. Upon returning home he started working for Farm and Home and Malloy Electric and Bearing Co. in Sioux Falls, SD. He worked for North Central Airlines in Michigan and was transferred to Western Airline and later Delta Airlines where he worked for twenty years in Sioux Falls. He retired in 1994 and worked part-time at Glens Food Center in Luverne. On September 7, 1962, Jim was united in marriage to Larona Aukes at The Steen Reformed Church. They made their home in Steen, MN. Jim was a member of The Steen Reformed Church and American Legion of Valley Springs, SD. He loved working for the airlines, fishing, sports, traveling, spending time at their lake home, and above all, spending time with his grandchildren. This past Saturday, March 27, 2010, Jim died with his wife by his side at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of seventy-seven. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Larona; son, Todd Elbers and his wife, Diane of Luverne, MN; daughter, Tracy Elbers of Luverne, MN; three grandchildren, Joshua Van Veld Huizen, Jaidyn and Jesse Elbers; siblings, Grace Van Maanan of Rock Valley, IA; Arlene and her husband, Jim Church of Chanhassen, MN; Marvin and his wife, Jean Elbers of Brandon, SD; Helen Schuck of Sibley, IA; Carol and her husband Marion Van Bemmel of Luverne, MN; and Beverly and her husband, Gary Siebring of George, IA; sister-in-law, Wilma Elbers of Luverne, MN; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John and Helen; two brothers, Gilbert and Cornelius Elbers and two brothers-in-law, Jacob Van Maanen and Larry Schuck and niece, Barb Vander Scaaf.