Erna Louise Rolfing
Erna Louise Rolfing, age 93 of Redwood Falls formerly of Wood Lake, passed away Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021 at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Springfield. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 22, 2021 at First United Methodist Church in Redwood Falls. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in the Wood Lake Cemetery. Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, guests will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing guidelines. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Erna Louise Rolfing was born November 5, 1927 to Ernest and Louise (Bauer) Nellis in Hartley, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Salem Methodist Church in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Erna graduated from South St. Paul High School in 1945. On May 31, 1947, Erna married the love of her life Orville Rolfing at Salem Methodist Church in Inver Grove Heights. Erna worked at Seeger Refrigeration in St. Paul until they started their family. While the couple lived in Inver Grove Heights, Erna was active in ladies aid at Salem Methodist Church. She spent a lot of her time volunteering at the elementary schools. In 1969, Erna and Orville moved to Wood Lake where they lived until moving to Homestead Cooperative in Redwood Falls in 2005. Erna loved helping people and visiting with them in their homes. She raised a huge garden each summer and took pride in being able to provide food for her family. She raised chickens and used the eggs for countless baked goods made with love. Erna was a true farmer’s wife, tending to the pigs and chickens and also helped with the crops and harvest. When she was not helping Orville on the farm, she enjoyed quilting and embroidery. Above all, Erna was a woman of great faith.
Erna is survived by her children: Kathryn Norton of Capitan, NM, Betty (Jeff) Stancer of Redwood Falls, Carolyn (Brad) Schwitters of Pahrump, NV, and John Rolfing of Capitan, NM; many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; and sister-in-law Patricia Nellis of Plant City, FL. She is preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Louise, husband Orville, daughter Cheryl Hively, great granddaughter Riley Stancer, and siblings: Opal Bernier, Lorna Johnson, Arlene Duff, Darlene Goppelt, John Nellis, infant sister Leila, and Ernest Nellis.
