Elmer Joseph Goetz

Elmer Joseph Goetz, 88, of Sioux Falls and formerly Aberdeen, SD, passed away Friday, March 5, 2021 with his children at his side at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 12, 2021 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Aberdeen, with Fr. Michael Griffin, Celebrant.

Visitation will be 5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, at the mortuary and continuing one hour prior to Mass at the church.

Burial, with military honors, will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Aberdeen.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and also view the service at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Elmer Joseph Goetz was born on December 25, 1932 and was the second of seven children born to Roy and Katherine (Deis) Goetz.  He was raised on his parents’ farm southwest of Roscoe, SD with his five brothers and one sister.

After completing high school at Roscoe, he attended Northern State University, graduating in 1955 with a BS in Business Administration. While at Northern he played center for the NSU basketball team, winning two SDIC conference championships and recognition when named to the 1954-55 All-Conference first team. During college Elmer was a member of the Newman Club and N Club, an organization for Northern's letter winners, and also participated in the ROTC program, spending the summers of 1953 and 1954 training at Quantico in Virginia.

Upon graduation, Elmer married Aileen Ann Ahern on July 11, 1955 in Brookings, SD, and for their honeymoon, they traveled east where they took in the sites of Niagara Falls and New York City on their way to Jacksonville, North Carolina. In Jacksonville Elmer completed his two-year ROTC commitment with the United States Marine Corps (1955-1957) at Camp Lejeune as a 1st lieutenant. It was in Jacksonville, in 1956 that Elmer and Aileen’s first child, Laura, was born.

In 1957, Elmer and Aileen moved back to Aberdeen where it was Elmer’s intention to teach and coach however, he took a position as an assistant teller for First National Bank, and found working at the bank was a better fit, a decision validated by a career that spanned 33 years. Son Terry and daughter Jeanne were born in Aberdeen prior Elmer’s transfer to the Redfield bank where he eventually became branch manager. Son Dan was born in Redfield, SD.

He was active in the Redfield, Aberdeen and Northern State University communities throughout his life. Elmer was president of the Redfield Chamber of Commerce, member of the Redfield Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus, Salvation Army, and Jaycees, from whom he received the Boss of the Year Award in 1974. Elmer was transferred to Aberdeen in 1976 as Vice President of First National Bank, which later became known as Norwest. His successful career was complete upon retirement in the spring of 1991.

In Aberdeen Elmer was involved with the Aberdeen Development Corporation, Chamber of Commerce, NSU Wolves Club President, NSU Foundation Board and Roncalli Foundation Board. He helped with fundraising for Roncalli Catholic schools, Presentation College, the Boy Scouts of America and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Elmer was inducted into the NSU Hall of Fame in 1983. He was selected as the NSU Gypsy Day Parade Marshall in 1992. One of his most satisfying volunteer undertakings was establishing and maintaining the Swisher Field Tree Project. He received the George Award from the Chamber of Commerce in 1998 for his contributions to the community. In 2010 Elmer was named to the Roncalli Hall of Fame for significant contribution of time and talent to Catholic education in Aberdeen.

He was an avid fisherman, who also enjoyed playing and umpiring both slow and fast pitch softball in Redfield and Aberdeen, helping others by volunteering at St. Mary’s Church, traveling, camping and attending Northern State University activities. He enjoyed being a spectator at all types of sporting events including basketball, football, soccer, tennis and gymnastics, especially those that involved his grandchildren.

After Aileen’s death in May of 2013, Elmer moved to Sioux Falls where he resided at Avera Prince of Peace.

Grateful for having shared his life are daughter Laura (Ed) Lueck Sioux Falls, son Terry (Patty) Goetz Sioux Falls, daughter Jeanne Goetz (Marcus Lerch) Macdoel, CA and son Dan (Joanna) Goetz Aberdeen. Grandchildren are Danielle Goetz, Jameson Goetz, Franz Lerch, Ethan Case, Olivia Goetz, and Gabe Goetz.

He is also survived by his siblings, Joe Goetz, Elroy Goetz, Jerome (Linda) Goetz and Jim (Angie) Goetz and Betty (Don) Ellwein, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Elmer was preceded in death by his wife Aileen, parents Roy and Katherine, his brother Leonard, and two sisters-in-law, Ann (Joe) and Jean (Elroy).

Memorials may be directed towards the Northern State University Elmer and Aileen Goetz Scholarship Endowment or the Aberdeen Catholic School System Goetz Family Memorial Scholarship.

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