Edwin R. Brauer

Edwin R. Brauer, 82 of Ellendale, ND died April 17, 2015 at Aberdeen Health and Rehab. The funeral is 10:30am Thursday, April 23 at Presbyterian United Methodist Church, Ellendale with Pastor Paul Henschen officiating. Visitation is 5-8pm Wednesday, with family present, and a prayer service at 7pm at Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale. Burial will be at Ellendale City Cemetery. Visitation will continue one hour prior to church services. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel. Edwin Ralph Brauer was born October 30, 1932 to Edwin F. “Jim” and Etta (Griffin) Brauer in Ellendale. Eddie was baptized and raised in the Presbyterian faith. He attended elementary school in Monango, where his parents sharecropped southeast of town. He enjoyed sports and never met a stranger. In 1945, the family moved to their farm on the North Dakota-South Dakota State Line southwest of Ellendale. He attended the Strand School in Palmyra Township, SD with his future bride, Nona Mellang. An Ellendale Cardinal, Eddie ran track, played football and basketball for EHS, graduating in 1950. He worked alongside his father as Brauer and Son and expanded the family farm throughout the next six decades. Eddie and Nona were married September 21, 1952 at her family church, Aurdal Lutheran, on the State Line near Forbes, ND. They moved to their own farmstead on the State Line in 1960, initially raising Hereford, Simmental and finally Black Angus beef cattle, Yorkshire hogs, corn and grain crops. They became the parents of a daughter, Pamela, and a son, James, always in the crowd supporting their activities. They continued to farm with James and his wife, Sheila, at Brauer Farms, until their retirement in recent years: Once a farmer, always a farmer. A member of the Presbyterian United Methodist Church, Ellendale, over the years, Eddie served on the building committee, finance committee, and as trustee. Eddie was a seed corn dealer for Northrup King, member of Pheasants Forever and a 42-year member of the Aberdeen Elks Lodge. He enjoyed pheasant, duck and deer hunting, hosting festive holiday parties, visiting his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, traveling the country with Nona in their motorhome, and an occasional stop at a casino. He also enjoyed crafting artistic items from tractor seats, pheasant feathers and barbed wire. Fast Eddie’s work ethic was well known and he had abundant pride in his marriage, family and farm. Eddie is survived by his wife of 62 ½ years, Nona, Ellendale; daughter, Pamela (Dean) O’Brien, Emory, TX, son, James (Sheila) Brauer, Ellendale, six grandchildren: Cameron Brauer, Seattle, WA, Jenna (Dustin) Cash, Allen, TX, Megan O’Brien, Dallas, TX, Heather (Ross) Young, Fargo, ND, Evan O’Brien, Emory, TX and Shannon Brauer (engaged to Josh Zach), Moorhead, MN, two great-grandchildren, Sadie and Nolan Young, Fargo, ND, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Ruth McNabb. "We cannot fill his shoes, but we can follow in his footsteps”