The funeral service for Elva Mae Freiheit will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Home, corner of 55th Street and 18th Avenue NW, in Rochester, with the Rev. Phil Harris officiating. Burial will be in the Dale Pleasant Prairie Cemetery in rural Zumbro Falls. Friends and family may visit from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 25, at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Home in Rochester and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Freiheit, 94, of Owatonna and formerly of Rochester, passed away on Tuesday morning, August 22, 2017 at Traditions I in Owatonna.

Elva Mae, nee Anderson, Freiheit was born in St. Johns Hospital at Red Wing, MN on October 8, 1922 to Ray & Mabel, nee Webster, Anderson. She completed elementary school requirements in a one room rural school designated as District # 52, Wabasha County. More commonly referred to as "The Adams School" or "The North School". She graduated from Rochester High in 1940 and then; promptly enrolled at Winona State College to begin specialized training for teaching in rural schools. Upon completion of the course, the graduate was certified to be qualified to teach grades 1 through 8 in rural schools.

In her 3rd year of teaching, a catastrophic health issue almost took her life. It began with a severe headache in the morning and the pain kept increasing throughout the day. She was rushed to Mayo in Rochester, a tap was made for spinal fluid. The diagnosis was cerebral meningitis, a bacterial infection which can be fatal if not identified and treatment rendered immediately. Penicillin was a relatively new drug and was used with a positive reaction. But the side effects of the infection prohibited her from completing the school year. Because of the extended recovery period, she decided to press on for a higher education and enrolled at Marion College in Marion, IN a privately owned and operated Christian liberal arts institution of higher learning. She is listed in the college year book--Class of '49 as a senior, B.S. in Ed. (Elem.). In later years, Marion College became Indiana Wesleyan University, now one of the larger private schools in the state of Indiana. Elva Mae returned home to rural Zumbro Falls and was employed for 9 years as a receptionist at the Mayo Clinic.

On August 12, 1950 in the afternoon at the German Evangelical Church in Hammond, Elva Mae married F.R. "Bud" Freiheit of rural Bellechester. And changed her name from Anderson to Freiheit for the rest of her life, or 67years. Bud recently said, "God made Eve to be his helpmate. I think God made Elva Mae to be my helpmate." It was a beautiful summer day, with ideal temps and sunshine. There was a reception in the lower level of the church for the many relatives and friends of the newlyweds. As was the custom back in those years, a "Shivaree" followed in the evening which was a serenade by friends and neighbors- produced by circling the house, banging and pounding on anything that would make a lot of noise. When the newlyweds had heard enough, they were expected to appear and treat the people to ice cream, pop or candy.
Elva Mae especially enjoyed two activities. One was sending cards to those who were in need of encouragement, or being remembered for special events in their lives. The other was to use her outstanding culinary skills in preparing scrumptious meals for friends and loved ones, with much noisy visiting and laughter thrown in for good measure. She was an avid reader of Christion oriented literature and daily reading of the Bible

Her gregarious outgoing friendliness and contagious ready smile for almost everyone will be long remembered. Early in life, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Her daily living exemplified the teaching of her Lord.

In February of 2014, while on winter vacation in Florida, she experienced a heart attack that required a hasty return to MN. And entry into a nursing facility. Dementia was now becoming increasingly more prevalent. In March she was transferred into the confinement of a Memory Care Unit where she had been a resident now into the 4th year. Her husband visited her almost every day and included a little treat for her. He stated that in spite of all the hard times, Elva Mae would still meet him with that famous smile, with big tears rolling down her cheeks. In some cases such as hers, residents' personality can change and become very irritable or just plain mean due to the effects of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Elva Mae continued to maintain her cheerful attitude and was always graciously thankful for any small favor.

Surviving are her husband, Bud, one son, Ron, of Owatonna and one adopted brother, Robert Charnell of Vero Beach, FL. She was preceded in death; her parents.