Bernard Charles Ashoff, 86

Bernard Charles Ashoff, 86 years, born in St. Louis, Mo., 1916, passed from this life in Saint Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minn., Sept. 5, 2002.

Bernard "Bernie" Ashoff was preceded in death by his parents Bernard J. and Anna Ashoff, and sister Ruth Thompson.

Beloved husband and father, he leaves his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth, his children Gilbert Ashoff of Ukiah, Calif., Sharon Yunker of Rose Creek, Minn., David Ashoff of El Centro, Calif., his brother Robert Ashoff of Nipomo, Calif., five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one niece and many nephews.

In 1929, Bernie immigrated to Calif. with his restaurateur parents. He graduated from Fairfax High School in Hollywood, Calif., and attended UCLA for two years. He was in the family business in the Los Angeles area, then joined Douglas Aircraft as an engineer in the late 1930's.

Bernie fell in love with Elizabeth "Betty" Hewitt. They married June of 1941. World War II began that December, which changed Bernie and Betty's lives. They moved from Beverly Hills to Santa Monica, Long Beach, Calif., and Oklahoma City, Okla. They returned to Santa Monica and Studio City, Calif. All moves related to Bernie's work with Douglas Aircraft and the war effort.

After Douglas Aircraft, Bernie started a children's car seat business. He left the business and moved to Northern California, and worked for Ets, Hoken and Galvin in San Francisco.

Bernie loved to travel. He was one of United Airlines's first 100,000-mile travelers and eventually reached the one million-mile mark.

In 1956, Bernie returned to Southern California to Santa Ana then Granada Hills. He represented Homelite and Onan to the burgeoning population in Los Angeles.

He began representing Hiab cranes and Flytt pumps from Sweden and, in 1958, moved to Palos Heights, near Chicago, Ill., and opened a Mid-West office.

Bernie and Betty returned to Southern California in 1973. Bernie retired, and he and Betty moved to Ukiah, Calif., close to his son Gilbert in 1981. They resided in Ukiah for many years, then returned to their Midwestern roots in 1997 close to their daughter Sharon in Austin, Minn.

Bernie loved his Lord and served Him faithfully in many capacities. While a member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, was a life member of the Foundation Board of Trustees, Concordia University, Irvine, Calif. He and his wife became members of First Presbyterian in Ukiah, and were members of Westminster Presbyterian, Austin, Minn., where he worked with Evangelism and Missionary Committees and Promise Keepers.

Memorial service will be held Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin, Minn.

There will be no visitation.

Elberta E. Goodew, 89

Elberta E. Goodew, 89, formerly of Austin, died Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002, at the Good Samaritan Center, St. Ansgar, Iowa.

She was born July 3, 1913, in Cambridge, Iowa, to George H. and Grace Ann (Elder) Goodew. The family moved to a farm in the Austin area in 1918.

She attended Austin High School.

After her father's death in 1934 the family moved into Austin.

Elberta was a member of the Church of Christ Cedar River. She worked over 32 years at the Hormel Company including 26 years in the laboratory of the Research and Development department.

She loved to read and belonged to a book club, she liked bird watching, doing crossword puzzles and flowers.

Survivors include brother and sisters-in-law, Lawrence and Stella Goodew, Austin; Marian Goodew, Austin; nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters and brothers-in-law, Myrtle and Howard Nichelson; Mary and Todd Burke; brothers and sister-in-law, Edward and Valyda Goodew, Robert Goodew, Russell Goodew, George Goodew Jr., Gary Goodew and Richard Goodew.

Visitation: One hour before the service on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Service: 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002, at the funeral home with Rev. Gary Gonnerman officiating.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery.

Funeral Home: Mayer Funeral Home, Austin.