Elroy Dragsten wrapped in the loving arms of his wife (Ardis) of more than 66 years, was called by Jesus on April 13, 2018, at the age of 92 in his home in Brookings. His fight with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia was met with complications he could not overcome. We believe he was carried over the threshold into heaven by Jesus and his son Rodney. Elroy was united with loved ones and friends he has not seen in a long time.
Born on June 30, 1925 Elroy loved growing up in Wallace, South Dakota, where you could hunt from your front porch. He didn’t need to say the words “I Love You,” you knew by his actions you were truly loved. At first meeting him you would think he was shy, but you would soon learn that he was a friendly, witty man with true integrity and charm. He did not have to use many words to express his love or his seldom displeasure.
Elroy loved his country and served in the Navy during WWII as a second lieutenant. He earned his civil engineering degree from South Dakota State University (Jackrabbits) in June 1952 and belonged to the National Society of Professional Engineers during his lifelong career.
He was always active in his community through the Lutheran church, Chippewa County Historical Society, Lions and Kiwanis clubs.
For a man who was never going to get married, he was smitten with Ardis (Rovang). They were united in marriage on March 23, 1952. On March 4, 1953, they welcomed their son Rodney Elroy. Soon after, their daughter, Heidi Inga was born on October 2, 1954. The family traveled wherever his engineering jobs took them, from Wausau, Wisconsin to Grand Marais, Minnesota, where Highway 61 travels to the Canadian border, which is an All-American road and National Scenic Byway. They decided to expand their family and Kathy Jo was born on June 16, 1962.
At the start of his career in 1952 he was assistant city civil engineer in Huron. In 1953, he moved his family to Minnesota, where he worked for the Minnesota Highway Department. He joined SJ Groves & Sons Co in 1959 as their civil engineer and moved his family to La Crescent, Minnesota, in 1962.
The construction of Highway 61 from Dresbach to Dakota, in the Hiawatha Valley was built under his watch. The company later (1969) moved his family to Shakopee, Minnesota, where he commuted to his downtown Minneapolis office. His career took a strange turn in which he decided to embark on a new and challenging profession. In 1971, he and Ardis became the owners of an A&W Drive-In in Pipestone, Minnesota. The excitement of owning a business soon vanished. Elroy returned to his chosen occupation as a civil engineer and the position he loved most during his career…Chippewa County Engineer in Montevideo, Minnesota, from 1974 -1995. He was instrumental in the construction of the first bike path for Chippewa County in 1993.
He passed on his passion for water sports to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. In the earlier years, every Sunday was spent on the Mississippi River near La Crosse, Wisonsin and later at Big Kandiyohi (Willmar, Minnesota), Serpent Lake (Deerwood, Minnesota) and most recently Lake Pulaski (Buffalo, Minnesota). His 18-foot Hobie Cat was a passion. He loved the quiet sail in the morning and evenings with wild rides on one hull, hiked out on the trapeze when the winds picked up. There was always a good reason to sail. He also water-skied until he was 81.
In retirement, at the age of 70 he and Ardis shared a home during the winter months in The Villages, Florida. A golf cart ride or golf game was just outside his door. In his 80’s, to the delight of his family, he began another passion of writing stories of his life.
Elroy joins his parents Peder and Inga (Fiksdahl) Dragsten, his son Rodney Elroy Dragsten (2014), grandson Mitchell David Haugan (1995), brothers Palmer, Monroe, Arnold and sister Ardes Fjelstad.
Surviving are his wife Ardis; daughters Heidi (Thomas) Barcia (Reno, Nevada), Kathy Jo (David) Haugan (Brookings); daughter-in-law Ann Dragsten (Monticello, Minnesota); sister Irene Thorson (Elk Point,), grandchildren; Jennifer (Ben) Anderson (Becker, Minnesota), Valerie (Shaun) Hickman (Otsego, Minnesota), Nikki (Travis) Drahota (Becker, Minnesota), Michael (Brooke) Barcia (Reno, Nevada), Tommy (Elisa) Barcia (Reno, Nevada), Johanna Haugan and Peder Haugan (Brookings). He was blessed with 11 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, June 1, 2018 at First Lutheran Church in Brookings at 2 p.m. with a visitation one hour prior.
Condolences may be sent to the family though www.rudefuneralhome.com.
