Elaine Bidne, 1925-2019

Published 1:00 am Thursday, December 5, 2019

Elaine Alice Bidne, 94, of Kiester died Monday, Dec. 2, 2019, at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea.

Elaine Bidne

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Kiester. The Rev. Bob Stover will officiate. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church Saturday. Interment will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is assisting the family. To leave an online condolence, visit www.brussheitner.com.

Elaine Alice was born Aug. 5, 1925, to Arthur and Ethel (Sydow) Sahr in rural Brush Creek Township.

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On Nov. 26, 1925, she was baptized and later confirmed at Rice Lake Evangelical Church on April 17, 1938.

Elaine attended rural school in District No. 78 and attended ninth through 12th grade at Bricelyn High School, where she graduated in 1942. Elaine went to teacher’s training for a year in Blue Earth. She taught in rural schools for four years.

On Dec. 20, 1946, she was united in marriage to Calmer Bidne at Brush Creek Evangelical Church.

Elaine was a devoted wife and mother. She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Association women’s group and circles, where she held offices in each. Elaine was a member of the Kiester Parent Teacher Association and Trinity Lutheran Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Calmer Bidne; granddaughter, Jennifer Bidne; brothers Keith and Wayne Sahr; and sisters Verle Knapton and Milda Steckelberg.

Elaine is survived by her children Sharon (James) Springborg of Rochester, Allen (Alice) Bidne of Waverly, Iowa, Loren (Joan) Bidne of Kiester, Steven Bidne of Kiester and Kevin (Cindy) Bidne of Fertile, Iowa; grandchildren Laura (Bill) Unverzagt, Sara Schwie, Janelle (Kevin) Van Sloun, Jeanette ( Dan Foster) Bidne, Matthew (Sarah) Bidne, Michael (Laura) Bidne and Mark (Erin) Bidne; 11 great-grandchildren, Ean, Allison and Emily Unverzagt, Connor and Allen Bidne, Thomas and Julia Bidne, Brielle and Bailey Bidne, and Gavin and Trajen Bautista; and many nieces, nephews and their families.