DelRoy Wayne Elston, “Del,” family man, friend, teacher and coach died on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, surrounded by his family.
Del was born on Aug. 15, 1940, in Brookings, South Dakota. to Wayne and Irene Elston. He attended and graduated from Brookings High School in 1958. While at Brookings, Del earned three letters in football and was named to the all-state team, as well as earning three letters in track and basketball. After high school he attended South Dakota State where he played football, graduating in 1964 with a BS in Education.
In 1966, during his time as a member of the Army Reserves, he met and married the love of his life, Veda Ann VandenBerg. They knew each other just five months before marrying on Dec. 17, 1966. Del and Veda would spend the next 57 years making memories together with their family and numerous friends.
Del started teaching in Tintah, Minnesota, before moving the next year to Big Stone City, SD. In 1967, they moved to Lyle, MN, where he taught and coached for three years. Finally, in 1970, he and Veda found their forever home in Harmony, MN, where they would live for 50 years. Harmony is where Del and Veda raised their three children, Amy, Dory and Beau. While in Harmony, not only was Del a biology teacher and coach, he was also an active member of the Greenfield Lutheran Church for 50 years. He was a member of the Lions Club of Harmony working many brat stands in his day.
Del’s lasting legacy is probably that of “Coach’. In his time in Harmony, Del coached baseball, basketball and football, as well as directing Summer Rec. Though he coached basketball for 22 years, football was his true passion.
Del was the head football coach for the Harmony Cardinals from 1970-1992 and after the Harmony- Preston- Fountain consolidation, he coached until 2006. Over the course of his career he received numerous awards and recognitions including six state tournament appearances with the Harmony Cardinals and section runner-up six times with the Fillmore Central Falcons. Del led his team to a Class C State Championship in 1984 which led to him being named the 1984 Class C Coach of the Year. The following year, the Winona Daily News named Del the Sportsman of the Year. In 1997, Del coached the Outstate in the Minnesota All Star game. He was inducted to the High School Coaches Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Del enjoyed golfing, his many fishing trips with his buddies and family, watching sports and traveling with Veda. Watching his grandchildren and nephews play in all of their various activities brought Del tremendous joy. In 2020, Del and Veda moved to Eagle Crest in Onalaska, WI, to be closer to family.
Del was preceded in death by his mother, Irene, father, Wayne, mother-in-law, Ruth, Father in law, Rodney, brothers Doyle (Dana), and Danny and two nephews Jason Lee and TImothy Hames.
Del is survived by his wife, Veda, his children Amy Elston of Pardeeville, WI, Dory Elston of La Crosse, WI, Beau (Summer) Elston of La Crosse, grandchildren Carter (Kailey) Jenatscheck, Lydia Jenatscheck, Cooper Jenatscheck, Peyton (Ben) Schmit, Zach (Hannah) Mensink, Mason Elston, Preston Elston and Delaney Elston; one great=grandchild, August Schmit; sister, Damaras Hopfenspirger, sisters in law Kathleen Fox and Lorna (Jay) Elliason and one brother in law Wayne VandenBerg along with a niece and many nephews.
DelRoy has donated his body to Mayo Clinic for research purposes and will be laid to rest in Fairlawn Cemetery in Aurora, South Dakota. There will be a celebration of life on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 11 a.m. at Del Elston Football Field in Harmony, Minnesota, with a luncheon following at the Harmony Golf Course.
Coaching his Harmony Cardinals and Fillmore Central Falcons brought him great happiness and he was quoted saying, “As a high school teacher-coach the ultimate experience was seeing young people do things right, do their best and treat other people the way they like to be treated.”
