Elaine Olive Haberman
May 7, 1932 ~ April 17, 2017
Elaine Olive (Dierks) Haberman, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, died peacefully Monday, April 17, 2017, at the Bethany Home, in Brandon, surrounded by her family.
Visitation will be 5-7pm, Thursday, April 20, 2017, at Brandon Lutheran Church, Brandon, SD. Funeral Services will be 11:00am, Friday, April 21, 2017, also at Brandon Lutheran Church. Interment will follow at the Worthington Memorial Gardens.
Elaine, daughter of George and Emma (Knigge) Dierks, was born on the family farm southwest of Fulda, MN on May 7, 1932. She was baptized as an infant and then confirmed in the Lutheran faith in 1946. Elaine attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School for her elementary years and graduated from Fulda High School in 1950. She was employed by Lebben’s Grocery part-time during her school years and then Credit Records in Worthington, MN after graduation.
She was engaged to Ferd Haberman in 1951, a short time before he was inducted into the United States Air Force. Ferd and Elaine were united in marriage on July 5, 1953 while he was home on military leave. Their first home was on Turner Air Force Base in Albany, GA.
Their son, Irvin, was born in March 1955 at the base hospital. After Ferd was discharged in 1956, they returned to Fulda, MN where they made their home and lived for 10 years. Their oldest daughter, Sharon, was born in October 1964. They moved to Heron Lake, MN in 1967 where their youngest child, Kristine, was born in February 1970. They moved to Brandon, SD in February 1976.
Elaine was a stay at home mom while the children were young. Her career included working as an administrative assistant at Occidental Fertilizer Company in Heron Lake, MN as well as Hills of Rest and Eastside Baptist Church in Sioux Falls, SD. Elaine’s last job was as a legal secretary at Abbott and Abbott Law Offices in Brandon, SD for 26 years before retiring in 2006.
Throughout her life, Elaine was active in church, enjoyed gardening, planting flowers, playing cards and fishing. Along with her husband and children, her greatest love in life was her grandchildren. Elaine will be remembered for her love and devotion to family and kindness to all she encountered.
Elaine will be deeply missed by her husband, Ferd; three children, Irvin Haberman, Sioux Falls, Sharon Johansen, Brandon, and Kris (Jeff) Tietz, New Prague, MN; three grandchildren, Ava, Audrey, and Cooper; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Elaine is preceded in death by her parents; one son-in-law, Robert (BJ) Johanson; and five siblings, Arnold (Ruth) Dierks, Renata (Robert) Christenson, Irene (Fred) Boehnke, Erna (Norman) Breit, and Raymond (Bernice) Dierks.
My children would ask, “how is Elaine exactly related to us?” She was the gatekeeper to my husband’s desk and protected him dearly. There are many stories that could be told! Going to work was something I never dreaded. She was family and we will all miss her so.
Caryl Abbott
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. “He will swallow death forever, and the Sovereign Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces.” Revelation 21: 4 “He wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” My heartfelt condolences and prayers for family and friends.
So sorry to hear about Elaine’s passing. She was a phenomenal woman! Before my mom sold the Brandon house, I loved spotting Elaine working in the yard and meeting her at the fence for a quick chat! Her house was always welcoming and warm to the kids her daughter’s brought home. She will always be a treasured memory from my childhood. May you all rest easier knowing that a soul like hers left its mark on the world and we are all better for having known her.
I am feeling for all of you. She was one of the nicest, and most polite person I’ve ever met. My prayers are with you all.
Sharon and family
So sorry for the loss of your mom. She was a great woman. I remember her smile from when we were competing in track. She always cheered for you but she cheered for all of us. She will be missed.
My heart breaks with you all. Elaine was the sweetest spirit I have ever met. Always, always greeted you with a smile. I am praying your family will find peace and joy through the sorrow. Love you all!