Elaine Schwieger

Elaine Ruth Schwieger, age 95, of Fairmont, passed away of natural causes on March 29, 2020 at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont. Burial took place privately in Fairview Memorial Park Cemetery, Fairmont. A funeral service will be held at 1PM Friday August 28, 2020 at Zion Lutheran Church-Fraser. The family asks that everyone please wear a mask and social distancing will be observed. Zaharia Family Funeral Home in Truman is entrusted with arrangements. Elaine was born to Alfred and Mary (Roehler) Moeller on June 15, 1924 in Fraser Township, Martin County. She was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church, Fraser on June 29, 1924 by Rev. C.A. Noffke. Elaine was confirmed at Zion on April 10, 1938 by Rev. A.M. Beck. She graduated from Fairmont High School in 1942. She married Reinhard Schwieger on December 26, 1943 by Rev. E. Kolberg. They lived on the Schwieger family farm all their married life. Elaine was a lifetime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Fraser was active in several choirs, taught Sunday School and VBS, attended Bible Class and was also in charge of nursery cradle roll. She also was active in LWML, Lutheran Retirement Home Auxiliary and was a foster parent for 25 years. She also was a volunteer and supporter of Options Pregnancy Center. Elaine cared for 35 foster children during those 25 years and cared for many with disabilities and long-term care. She also cared for her disabled son, Dale, since 1959. Elaine was chosen as “Mother of the Year” in 1995. She enjoyed sewing, flower gardening, scrapbooking and reading, especially, Janette Oke books. Hosting family Christmas Eve gatherings and oyster suppers were special to her. Elaine is survived by her sons, Doyle (Carol) Schwieger, Lonny (Jeanne) Schwieger, Dale Schwieger all of Fairmont; daughter, Maureen (Kyle) Balzly of Rock Springs, Wyoming; grandchildren, Darren (Michelle) Schwieger, Dean (April) Schwieger, Derek (Lynn) Schwieger all of Fairmont, Ryan (Margaret) Schwieger of Zimmerman, Reid (Jenny) Schwieger of Fairmont; great-grandchildren, Justin, Allison, Kayla, Nathan, Jaydan, Dillan, Laura, Brandon, Elizabeth, Caleb, Paige, Braden, Melynda (Peter) Kaut, Makayla, Miranda, Riley, Sam and Maddy, 5 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Ruth Engelby of Fairmont and Carol Peterson of Glendale, AZ; sisters-in-law, Ethelyn “Pete” Moeller, of Danbury, WI, Carol Schwieger of Thousand Oaks, CA and Ruth Moeller of Tucson AZ; brother in law, Henry Weihe of Truman and Mike Rosenwinkel of Idaho Falls, ID; many other relatives and friends. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Reinhard; brothers, Donald (Phyllis), Gordon, Roland (Evelyn) and Kenneth Moeller; sisters, Janet (Elwood) Ehn and Joanne Weihe; in-laws, Ruben (Glennice) Schwieger, Floyd Schwieger, Leander Schwieger and Juanita Rosenwinkel, infant brother Roy, one infant daughter and granddaughter Denise.