Elfie J. Riessen

Elfie Josephine Dorothy Johannsen Riessen was born June 9, 1922, in Otter Creek Township, Crawford County, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Hulda Johannsen. She passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, Iowa, at the age of ninety-seven.
Elfie was baptized and later confirmed at Friedens Evangelical and Reformed Church in Schleswig, Iowa. She received her education in the Denison District No. 1 Denison Township School and graduated from the 8th grade August 1, 1936. At an early age, she left home and lived with her brother, Herbert, and farmed with him. In addition, she helped numerous family members in the rural area in any way they needed her.
On February 25, 1951, Elfie was united in marriage to Erwin A. Riessen at Friedens Evangelical and Reformed Church and they were blessed with three daughters. With her husband, they farmed in the Ida Grove and Crawford County areas. As a farmer’s wife, Elfie raised “herds” of ducks, geese and chickens, some of which hatched from eggs and others were purchased as babies. Elfie and her three sisters tied quilts and wallpapered many rooms together. In 1971, they moved into Schleswig. Erwin passed away December 20, 1994.
Elfie’s employment career included: a Bartels Bakery employee, working in the kitchen at the Schleswig Community Building where she made “Elfie burgers”, custodian at the Farmers State Bank and making her famous potato salad for events.
Elfie was a member of the Quilt Club at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Schleswig where she sewed many quilt tops. She was also an officer of the Ladies Auxiliary for many years. In her leisure time, Elfie was a third generation grower of violets and enjoyed watching game shows and polka shows, especially Molly B, on television several nights a week, and completing word search puzzles. She loved to crochet making more doilies than can be counted which became a traditional gift for family events.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Erwin; two brothers, Herbert and Reynold; and three sisters, Gladys and her husband, Delmar, LaMae and her husband, Murlyn, and Benita and her husband, Edgar. Those left to cherish her memory include: three daughters, Karla and husband, Steve, Joann, and Renee and husband, Bill; three grandchildren, A’nette and husband, David, Amy and special friend, Paul, and Faith; one sister-in-law, Marian; nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends.