Marvin Elbers
Marvin Elbers, age 88 of Brandon, SD, passed way Saturday, April 19, 2025. The family will be present to greet friends for visitation from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, April 25, 2025 at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls, SD. Private family services will be held.
Marvin was born on March 14, 1937, in Steen, Minnesota, to John and Helen (Hoff) Elbers. He was baptized at The Steen Reformed Church, attended grade school in Steen, and graduated from Hills High School in 1955. After graduation, he worked for his dad in Steen. In 1960, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Germany beginning March 26, 1961. Marvin was a proud member of the American Legion in Valley Springs, SD.
After returning home, Marvin met the love of his life, Jean Funge, during a visit to Cronk’s Station in Valley Springs, SD. They were married on January 14, 1963, in Luverne, MN, and together built a long life. They raised three children, Vicky, Dawn, and Mike, first in Valley Springs and later in Brandon, SD.
Marvin had a deep appreciation for life’s simple pleasures. He loved fishing, especially at Lake Lida in Minnesota, and was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan, rarely missing a game on television. He enjoyed attending classic car shows and was always up for a good old western, with Gunsmoke being his favorite. One of his favorite stories to tell was about the time he drove on the newly completed Interstate 90 before it officially opened, a memory he recounted often and with a smile.
He worked for many years at IBP and later at Marv’s Sanitation in Brandon. In retirement, Marvin stayed active outdoors and took great joy in feeding the neighborhood squirrels, always making sure they had a steady supply of corn and peanuts.
Marvin’s warmth, humor, and stories will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Jean; two daughters, Vicky (Dan) Anderson of Sioux Falls and Dawn Baas of Brandon; son, Mike (Ali) Elbers of Sioux Falls; nine grandchildren, Nicole, Nathan, Matt, Jason, Amy, Tonya, Austin, Zach, and Jacob; five great-grandchildren, Harper, Max, Stella, Lexi, and Layne; two sisters, Carol (Marion) Van Bemmel of Luverne, MN and Bev (Gary) Siebring of George, IA; and many extended family members and friends.
Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, John and Helen Elbers; his brothers, Gilbert, Cornelius “Stub,” and James Elbers; sisters Grace Van Maanen, Helen Schook, and Arlene Church; brothers-in-law Jacob Van Maanen, Alvin Funge, Lyle Funge, and Donald “Pete” Funge; sisters-in-law Lorana Elbers and Wilma Elbers; and his in-laws, Murel and Stella Cronk.