Elsie also served on the Board of the Foundation for Community Care.

Committed to her faith, Elsie pursued national committee work for the American Lutheran Church and served as chairperson of the combined MT-WY Synod. She chaired the MT-WY district committee overseeing the merger of the American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran Church of America into the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

Elsie and Jerry had another passion-traveling to new places to expand their appreciation for the diverse peoples and cultures of this nation and the world. Trips to visit relatives in Canada, Minnesota, North Dakota and Oregon, were a family tradition throughout their lives. After retirement, Elsie and Jerry were able to venture significantly further including trips to Egypt, the Sinai peninsula, Japan, Spain, Germany, Norway, Greece and Turkey. They also made many trips to American cities and parks from coast to coast (including Hawaii and Alaska), typically accompanied by dear friends and family members.

But as much as Elsie enjoyed the traveling, her greatest joy and biggest challenge in retirement was completing a two-year lay ministry program of the ELCA alongside her beloved husband, Jerry. The two of them were again on the move, accepting interim positions at three different multi-point parishes across northeastern and central Montana over the next three years, during which time they made many wonderful friendships.

Elsie's greatest joys throughout her life remained her faith, music, friends, and always her family. She died peacefully at home on Wednesday, July 18, with her husband and children at her side.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Jerry Redlin, and their seven children and spouses, Jeffrey (Misty) Redlin, Jonathon (Karen) Redlin, Bethany (Dan) Redlin Mocko, Meredith Redlin, Nathaniel Redlin, Bradley (Erin) Jordahl Redlin, and Marcus (Karen) Redlin; her brother Ted (Agnes) Hoversten and two sisters-in-law, Chris Redlin and Lois Redlin. Elsie is also survived by fifteen loving grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren including: Jen (John) McFadden and Mahayla; Steven Paulson; Jared (Chelsea) Paulson; Julian (Katie) Paulson; Jeanne (Chris) Sessing, Mattias and Olivya; Jacquie Redlin and Xavier; Stacey Redlin; Ian (Jeni) Redlin, Isabel and Finley; Melissa (Doug) Hagenbuch, Mason and Lilly; Rhea (Wes) Christensen; Devon Redlin; Eli Jordahl Redlin (Elsie's namesake); and Emma, Kellyn and Daniel Redlin. She is also survived by 9 nephews and 10 nieces, with whom she also shared a special relationship.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Thelma Golden; brothers-in-law, Ernie, Rolland, Ward and Robert Redlin, niece Kristi Redlin and nephew Bruce Redlin.

F or God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.John 3:16

In loving memory of

Elsie J. Redlin

Born: Died:

Funeral Service

Officiating

Music

Honorary Pallbearers

Ushers

Interment

March 14, 1931, Crosby, North DakotaJuly 18, 2012, Sidney, Montana

10 am, Wednesday, July 25, 2012Pella Lutheran Church

Sidney, Montana

Pastor Charlane Lines

Vocalist - Mary PfauAccompanist - Doris Norby

Organist - Greg Miller

Our friends and neighbors in the Three Buttes Community

Randy and Kelly JohnsonLeif and Teresa Anderson

Richland Memorial Park CemeterySidney, Montana

EElsie Jewell (Hoversten) Redlin was born in Crosby, ND on March 14, 1931 to Gerhart and Ina (Hilstrom) Hoversten and baptized at rural Long Creek Lutheran Church. She was raised on the family farm located 11 miles east of Crosby, the youngest of three children, including her sister Thelma and brother Ted. Growing up she attended a one-room country school for her elementary years, beginning a life-long love of learning and curiosity about the world. As was the custom, she “boarded out” in Crosby during her high school years and then attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN

where she completed a bachelor's degree in secondary education, with an English literature major and physical education minor. Her wit, humor, intellect and curiosity guided her teaching both in the schools she served and later at home with her family. Elsie taught students in multiple towns in the region, including Crosby, ND, and Glendive, Wolf Point, Lambert and Sidney MT.

Elsie met her future husband Jerry Redlin on a visit home from college. A mutual friend spotted her walking down the street in Crosby and invited her to hop in the car to help out a returning soldier needing a date for his brother's “couples-only” engagement party. She agreed and a little over two years later, on Feb. 7, 1954, they were married at Concordia Lutheran Church in Crosby. They made their first home in Sidney and began their family with the arrival of twin sons Jonathon and Jeffrey, and daughters, Bethany and Meredith. The young family moved to Wolf Point where son Nathaniel was born, but once again returned to the Sidney area to take over the family farm. For the next 28 years, they lived in the Three Buttes Community near Lambert, MT and raised their family – now including youngest sons, Bradley and Marcus.

Family always came first for Elsie, but church and community were close seconds as she strove to provide her family with well-rounded lives that took into account those in less fortunate circumstances. A life-long Democrat and unabashed liberal, Elsie, along with Jerry, was an active member and leader in the local Montana Democratic Party. Elsie also served her community through her work with the Montana Farmers Union, and her local church, both in leadership and as the church organist for 35 years. Her love of music also carried over into performing in later years as a member and director of the Sugar Valley Chapter of Sweet Adelines.

In 1991, Elsie and Jerry retired from farming and moved into Sidney where they've lived for the past 20 plus years. For Elsie “retirement” meant a new career as a book buyer for the Homestead bookstore where she could indulge her love of literature and share her joy with her customers. Soon, however, Elsie was appointed by then MT Gov. Ted Schwinden to the Board of Regents of the Montana University System where she served with distinction and integrity for 10 years. She earned the moniker of “Conscience of the Board” from her fellow regents and university staff. She and Jerry continued to serve their new community as well, working as volunteers for the hospice program in Sidney.

Elsie J. Redlin

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