Elsie Edel (Sutliff) Tveit passed away Thursday, March 24, 2022 at the LifeCare Roseau Manor. She was 93 years old. Elsie was born on December 11, 1928 at her parents’ home south of Warroad. She was the fourth of eleven children born to Sam and Elsie Sutliff. Her birthday was a wonderfully warm and mild December day. In fact, it was so nice they left the outside kitchen door open for some clean fresh air.
She attended grades one through eight at the Bloom School just south of Warroad. She and her siblings walked this two mile route to school except on bad weather days. After completing her years at the Bloom School she moved into town and stayed with families there during the school year. In the fall of 1945 the Bloom School consolidated with the Warroad district so she was able to stay at home and walk only a half mile to catch the bus to school. Elsie graduated from Warroad High School in May of 1946. In August of that year she began work for Dr. John Larson’s dental office. Here she worked as a one person team serving as a receptionist, dental assistant, and custodian … and all with no prior training or experience.
Shortly after her twenty-second birthday she married Lawrence Tveit of Roosevelt. Their wedding day, December 23, 1950, was a very cold and stormy day in Warroad. A small dinner reception was to be held at the home of her parents in Moranville Township. Her father plowed open the drifted road three times that morning so that guests could arrive. She continued to work for Dr. Larson for the next six months and then moved to their farm north of Roosevelt near Rocky Point.
Elsie was a stay at home housewife all of her married life … cooking, baking, gardening, canning, sewing … all while raising a family of five children. Her homemade bread was a blue ribbon winner and more than one neighbor paid her to bake bread for them. The Roosevelt Legion Auxiliary’s pancake breakfast was always a “must attend” event for locals and it was her special pancake recipe that kept them coming back. However, her most sought after treat was her raised glazed doughnuts. These were especially good right out of the fryer and freshly frosted. It was not uncommon to find neighbors or an officer of the law with their feet under Elsie’s table on doughnut days.
Throughout her sixty-seven years in the Roosevelt area, Elsie was involved with many community and church activities. She was a strong supporter of the Mount Carmel Ladies Aid (WELCA) and held all officer positions as well as teaching Sunday School and serving as its superintendent. Elsie was also a proud member of the Roosevelt American Legion Auxiliary for 71 years and held all officer positions in that organization too. She and Lawrence served as state fire wardens from 1971 – 2008 and in 1987 Lawrence and Elsie were selected as the Red River Valley Farmer and Homemaker award winners. In her senior years she always enjoyed watching hockey games whether it be in person or on television, knitting pot holders, crocheting, quilting, or making school kits to be sent overseas. She left her home on the farm in February of 2018 and began another new chapter in her life when she moved into the Warroad Senior Living Center. A health issue in August of 2021 forced her into the hospital and then to the LifeCare Roseau Manor. Her family wishes to thank the staff and residents of both the Warroad Senior Living Center and LifeCare Roseau Manor for their wonderful care and support during Elsie’s stay at their facility.
Elsie is survived by her children: Ron (Renae) Tveit of Warroad, Barb Tveit of Coon Rapids, Byron (Tammie) Tveit of Roosevelt, Renae (Kevin) House of Wrenshall; Grandchildren Justin (Sara) Tveit, Whitney (Grant) Rasmussen, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Brock House; Great Grandchildren Anders, Nels, Finn, and Henrik Rasmussen and Tanner and Landon Tveit. She is also survived by siblings Eva Pearson, Rita Busniuk, Virginia Gerszewski, Shirley Peterson, and Allan Sutliff.
Elsie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lawrence; son Tim; and siblings Sam, Ruth, Betty, Rose, and Phyllis. Blessed be her memory.
Services for Elsie will be held at Mount Carmel Lutheran Church in Roosevelt on Saturday, April 2nd at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be held Friday, April 1 from 5:00 – 7:00 at Helgeson’s Funeral Chapel in Warroad.
Last modified: 03/29/2022
