Elvin Russell Heller, age 89, of Pinewood, MN, formerly of Ladora, IA died Friday, August 8, 2008 at North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji, MN of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Funeral services: 10:00 A.M. Thursday, August 14, 2008, Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, Iowa with Rv. Mike Townsley officiating. Burial will be in the Kosta Cemetery, rural Marengo, IA with military honors. Friends may call from 5 to 8 P.M. Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be contributed to the Clover Ridge United Methodist Church Flood Relief Mission.

Survivor include his wife, Nancy L. of Pinewood, MN; two children and their spouses Rick and Ramona of Marengo, IA and Rusty and Martha of Pinewood, MN; four grandchildren and their spouses: Richard A. and fiancée Erin of Cedar Rapids, IA; Steven E.L. and Laura of Ralston, NE; Jon R. of Pinewood, MN; and Jessica L. and Samuel Wike of Bemidji, MN. and two great-grandchildren, Alexander and Elliott Heller of Omaha. Also surviving are three brothers and their spouses Wesley and Marietta Heller of Marengo, IA; George and Vava Heller of Marengo, IA and Frank and Zelma Heller of Lostine, Ore. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Emma, two sisters Mary and Alice and two brothers Lloyd Jr. and Ernest.

Elvin was born to Lloyd Wright and Emma Dusil Heller on the Heller Farm in Honeycreek Township, Iowa County, Iowa on April 7, 1919. He received his education in the Honeycreek#11 School, Iowa County, Iowa. He married Nancy Lee Daniels on October 15, 1949 in Bemidji, MN. The couple had two sons, Richard and Russell. Elvin served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1946 during World War II. Following his discharge from the Navy, he returned to Marengo, IA. where he was employed by Jim Furnlong’s Radiator. He then moved to Bena, MN to work at Judd’s Resort until 1971. He moved for a short time to Riverton, WY then returned to the Bemidji area where he owned and operated Elpine Village Trailer Court. He retired in 1992 to Pinewood, MN where he loved to hunt, fish, garden and make wine.