Elvera F. Winter

Elvera Frieda Winter, 91 of Arlington, died surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Mala Strana Nursing Home in New Prague, MN.  Funeral service will be on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Green Isle, MN.  Visitation will be at the church Tuesday, May 21, from 4:00 p.m. ~ 8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday morning.  The burial will be at Arlington Public Cemetery followed by lunch at the church.  Rev. Eric Rapp will officiate.

The hymns are How Great Thou Art, Take my Hand and Lead Me, Just as I Am and On Eagles Wings.  Polly Rapp will sing on Eagles Wings accompanied by Rev. Eric Rapp playing the guitar.  Grandsons serving as casket bearers are Charles Winter, Jeffrey Jahr, Troy Brueggemeier, Joel Knight, Jason Brueggemeier and Chad Schroeder.  Granddaughters serving as pallbearers, Jennifer Winter, Jaclyn Rademaker, Jessica Nagel, Brittany Brueggemeier and Danielle Margotta.  Honorary casket bearers are her great-grandchildren.

Elvera was born on July 16, 1932, in Sibley County, MN to Henry and Frieda (Eickhoff) Schilling.  She was Baptized on July 31, 1932, by Pastor R.W. Rottmann at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Green Isle, MN. She was Confirmed on March 29, 1946, at the same church by Pastor Berthold O. Streufert.  She attended parochial school in the church basement.  She finished 8th grade at District 25 Sibley County Green Isle, MN.  Elvera was united in Marriage to Leslie Winter on September 15, 1950, at the same church by Pastor R. Arndt.  They were blessed with four children, Charles, Sharon, Katherine and Susan.  Elvera enjoyed playing softball, was a homemaker, babysitter, home checking and later worked for Young America Corp. and retired in 1996.  She enjoyed her retirement by doing lots of traveling, fishing, bowling, dancing, and joining the Golden Age Club.  She enjoyed watching the Twins, doing word search, playing cards, spending time with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, family, and friends.  She enjoyed having the whole family over for special occasions and going to Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren activities.  Leslie and Elvera shared 65 years of marriage before Leslie passed away in 2016.

She is survived by her daughters: Sharon (Allan) Jahr of Pemberton, MN, Katherine (Virgil) Brueggemeier of New Prague, MN and Susan (Tony) Mathias of Waterville, MN.  Daughter-in-law, Debbra (Dick) Schroeder of Belle Plaine, MN.  14 grandchildren and 23 great-grand-children and 3 great-great-grandchildren.  Siblings; Sylvia Luehrs of Glencoe, MN and Alloyd (Elaine) Schilling of North Mankato, MN.  Sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; Russ Vilhauer of Litchfield, Dorothy Bettcher of Lester Prairie, Donna (Jerald) Gutzmer of Glencoe, and Elaine Winter of Sauk Center, MN.  Many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Leslie, parents, Mother-in-law and Father-in-law, August and Esther (Miller); son, Charles; Grandsons; Shawn Knight and Travis Brueggemeier.  Four brothers; Harvey, Virgil, Bill, Norman, and sister in infancy.  In-laws; Ruth and Muriel Schilling, Marvin Luehrs, Velma and Lowell Wendorff, Harry and Verna Winter, Leonard Winter, Marlys Vilhauer, Lester Karg, Ewald Bettcher; Niece, Debbie Wendland; nephew, Ehren Schilling.

Kolden Funeral Home of Arlington assisted the family with arrangements.