Evans Funeral Home
"Compassionate Funeral Service"
Carrington and New Rockford, North Dakota
701.652.3003 or 701.947.2911
Secondary Number ~ 701.650.9937
Arthur “Art” Erfle
Arthur Erfle, 92, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford, ND.
Arthur Erfle was born in a sod house near Chaseley, ND to David and Lizzie (Roller) Erfle on July 20, 1930. He grew up on the family farm, two miles west of Heaton and attended school there. During 1954 – 1956, Art served in the United States Army. He returned to Heaton to operate the farm.
On July 16, 1961 he was united in marriage to Janice Peterson of Minnewaukan. They farmed at Heaton until April 2000, when they moved to Carrington. They were snowbirds in Weslaco, TX for about 15 years. Art attended the Heaton Congregational Church and the Federated Church in Carrington. Art enjoyed going to the farm up until a month ago. Art’s happiest times were trimming ditches with his 4440 John Deere tractor, working with his evergreen trees, and tinkering at the farm, fixing farm buildings. In 1988, he was awarded the Wells County Soil Conservation Award. In 2013, Art received the 2013 Conservation Achievement Award for the 77,841 feet of trees he nursed and maintained. Art started planting trees when he was 4 years old.
Janice passed away in 2004. Art enjoyed spending time with Charlotte Skiftun for about 15 years. He was blessed to spend quality time with his family and especially his grandchildren.
Survivors include two sons, Steve (Mary Hoffner) Erfle, Heaton, ND, and Michael (Brenda) Erfle, Heaton, ND; two daughters, Lisa Balas, Las Vegas, NV, and Joni Erfle, Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Crystal Schmeets, Bismarck, ND, Jafrah Erfle with fiancé, Alex LaVoy, Fargo, ND, McCormick Erfle, Heaton, ND, Brittany Balas, Basehor, KS, and Delaney Erfle, Heaton, ND; his sister, Ruth Jensen, Surprise, AZ; former daughter-in-law, Lynn Erfle; and former son-in-law, Thomas Balas.
He is preceded in death by his wife; his parents; seven brothers, Lloyd, Nick, Roger, Arnold, David, Elmer and Fritz; and two sisters, Martha Burkhard and Irene Hennecke.
Pallbearers are the Erfle Farms employees, Leon Wright, Kelly Perleberg, Brent Schimelfenig, Dave Magnus, Eugene Cronje, Shawn Leiseth, Alex LaVoy, McCormick Erfle, who watched over Dad for many years.
We will all miss him very much and know he is in peace up in heaven.
A Visitation will be Thursday, from 1:00PM-7:00PM followed by a Prayer Service at 7:00PM all at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington.
Art’s Funeral Service will be held Friday, January 13, 2023, at 10:30AM at the Federated Church UCC/UMC, Carrington, ND.
His Burial will be at the Carrington Cemetery.
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Steve and Mike, Lisa and I want to send our sincere condolences to you two and your families. Always a tough time. Your dad was a great man. Always enjoyed visiting with him!
What a great man, father, and grandfather! He was such a hardworking man of God. I remember Janice telling the story of their wedding day when Art took the time to work in the field. That was Art!
Steve, Lisa, Joni, and Mike: Thank you, Joni, for keeping us informed this past week. Our deepest sympathies are with you all. Of course we remember many enjoyable visits with all of you, especially when you four and our three were children. We have considered whether or not to attempt to make the trip for the Visitation and Funeral. My first concern was weather forecasts which appear to be over an area from Bismark through Southeast Iowa — warnings for slippery and icy roads Wednesday and Thursday mornings. The rising risks of Covid infection are also concerns, especially for me, with many “senior” neighbors where I live. We called Evans Funeral home this morning and learned that it would be possible to watch a video afterward, although not a live “zoom.”
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with ALL of you at this difficult time!
Sending our deepest sympathies. I have fond memories of him and Uncle Elmer when I was growing up on the farm. Prayers for your family as you celebrate his life.
sorry to hear about art he was a great man
Sending you our deepest sympathies to you all. What a great man Art was!
Our thoughts and prayers our with you
Steve, Michael, Lisa and Joni, I have just read about the passing of your Dad this morning and I want to extend my sympathies to all of you at this difficult time. I have many fond memories of your Dad as I worked for him on the farm during the summers as I was growing up. He always treated me very well and never wanted to overwork me. I know he will be deeply missed by all of you. Our prayers are with you at this difficult time. I’m sorry I will not be unable to attend the funeral as we have prior commitment but will be thinking of you all.
Sending you our deepest sympathy! Art was such a great guy – we had the privilege of seeing him a few years ago in Carrington. Great memories growing up as neighbors! Our thoughts & prayers are with all of you!!
7:00pm CST Thursday 12 January 2023
Lisa, Steve, Joni, Mike & Brenda, — Thinking of you now during the Prayer service, and during the visitation hours today. Sorry it just did not work out as practical for me to attend, as I recall that you came here when Lyle died 16 years ago. I’m recalling being there with you in that place in March 2004. May God strengthen each of you, and grant you many happy memories as you are gathered together this weekend. Peace be with you all.
Sorry for your loss Art was an interesting guy !!!
Sending thoughts and prayers to Art’s entire family. Sure will miss the conversations we used to have over the years.
Corey and Kathy Lesmeister
Joni and all of the family.. I’m sorry to hear of the passing of your dad and grandfather. I viewed the prayer service for your dad. What wonderful memories were shared. Those memories will always be with you. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. God Bless.
Definitely thinking of you all today as you lay your dad and grandfather to rest. Glad to have found the link to watch the services. Art and the farm were so inseparable, it’s almost impossible to think of one without the other. I’m sure the farm–and the world–will be a lonelier place without him, but that his presence will also always be there.
Joni, Steve and family, we are so sorry for your loss. Art was always fun to visit with and we will miss seeing him in church. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
After watching the comments on last Thursday’s visitation, and the funeral from last Friday, I want to say I was very much moved and impressed by the funeral service and music. (Saw Lori & David there — no one else I recognized!)
The sharing on Thursday evening reminded me of a couple of events you may or may not recall. Someone mentioned flying in. Does anyone else remember the day when Lyle flew us in to the Carrington airport, and Artie picked us up while Lyle was tying down the (Cessna?). … We hadn’t gone too far en route to the farm when Artie said “Oh, Oh!” I didn’t know what he was talking about, but he pulled off the road for the Highway patrol! Someone had called in and accused him of driving on the runway! (We assured the officer that he had NOT been driving on the runway … but there were a few tense moments that day!)
The other story I thought about (involved Janice) … She said she had long had an agreement that if he didn’t care for the food she served, he would not say anything about it; just leave it and discuss it with her afterward when the youngsters were not around. (She didn’t want him to influence you four to refuse the food.) … So for her birthday she baked a pudding cake . . . it was beautiful and she looked forward to eating some of it. So she was distressed when Artie put his fork down and said, “I can’t eat this.” Next, each of you kids agreed. “We can’t eat this, Mom.” . . . Eventually, she tried it herself and agreed it was inedible. Even the DOG wouldn’t eat it! (She learned the “lesson” that diet pudding cake mix cannot be baked in the oven!)
Still thinking of you all. God be with you in your grief.
Sorry to hear of Art’s passing.
He was always willing to stop and talk when we would see him.
Couldn’t ask for a nicer person and always down to earth.
May God welcome him into his Kingdom for all of eternity.