Elsie “Sally” Jeral

Elsie “Sally” Jeral, 96, of Hawley, MN, died November 12, 2022, at Viking Manor in Ulen, MN.

Elsie “Sally” May (Boelz-Sahlberg) Jeral was born September 24, 1926, in Crow Wing County near Brainerd, MN to Bertha (Imm) and William Boelz.  Elsie is one of 9 children.  She was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Moorhead.  Elsie attended schools in Becker and Clay County and graduated from Moorhead High School in 1945. While attending high school she worked in the alteration department at Herbst Department Store, the food service at NDSU and later in the housekeeping department at St. Luke’s Hospital in Fargo.  After graduation she was employed in the advertising department at the Fargo Forum and as a nanny in Minneapolis.

Elsie was united in marriage to Leonard O. Jeral on May 29, 1948 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead.  They made their home on their farm near Hawley, MN and they had 3 children: Leonard, Ann and Tim.

Elsie worked as a mother’s helper in homes in Fargo and Moorhead for 15 years, as a nurse aide at St. Ansgar Hospital for 5 years, then as a personal care attendant and companion sitter for Tami’s Angels and Specialty Care until the age of 80.  Leonard passed away July 24, 2001.  Elsie continued to reside on the farm until moving to Viking Manor Nursing home in 2012.

Elsie has been an active member of Lysne Lutheran Church since 1951, including secretary of the Lysne ALCW, Sunday School superintendent and teacher for several years.  Elsie was a wonderful gardener with tons of bright, beautiful flowers in her many flower beds.  In her younger years she enjoyed dancing, playing cards and visiting with friends.  She also enjoyed quilting (having made numerous beautiful quilts for loved ones), playing piano and traveling.

She survived by her sons, Leonard W. Jeral, of Tonto Basin, AZ and Tim Jeral of Hawley; her sister, Cordelia (Ed) Raymond, 5 grandchildren, Lanae Butler, Shauna (Louis) Zunino, Dawn (Jesse) Blakeway, Leonard W. (Patricia) Jeral Jr. and Derek Schultz; 14 great-grandchildren, and many great-great- grandchildren.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard O. Jeral; her daughter, Ann Marie Schultz; sisters, Dorothy Barnes, Virginia “Jackie” Torkildson, Evelyn “Ruth” Holm, Mary Alice Sahlberg, Rose Mahedy; brother, Robert “Bob” Sahlberg and sister, Jean Arleen Sahlberg; daughters-in-law, Alma Jeral and Wendy Jeral.

Visitation will be Friday, November 18, 2022, from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M., with a time for sharing of memories at 5:30, at Wright Funeral Home in Hawley, MN.  The funeral service will be Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 11:00 A.M., at Lysne Lutheran Church, rural Hawley.