Elden J. Grosz, age 87, of Mott, ND peacefully passed away Friday evening October 26, 2018, at the Good Samaritan Society Nursing home in Mott,  ND.

Funeral Services are scheduled for Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at 10:00 am at New Leipzig Baptist Church in New Leipzig, ND.  Pastor Kevin McLouth will officiate with burial in the New Leipzig Baptist Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Monday from 4-7pm with a service for family and friends at 7pm all at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Mott.

Elden James Grosz was born at home on his family farm near Burt, ND on February 3, 1931 to Albert and Freda (Auch) Grosz. Although times were hard, he had many fond memories of growing up and working on the farm.

One story he often told was of a day when he and his brother Walter herded several hundred head of sheep, in the dark, and loaded them on the train in Bentley. He said the lambs were getting stuck in the deep snow and they had to get off their horses and help them.  When the brothers got to the station they had to separate the lambs from the ewes because they were only selling the lambs in a big livestock sale in Minneapolis. The ewes were extremely hard to herd without their babies but eventually their exhausting job was finally done and they were back on the farm. The brothers eagerly looked in the oven for the roast goose their mother had left for them, but it was burnt to a crisp so instead they just went to bed.

Elden learned how to build at an early age and remembers helping his father build a house in Mott, the year after he graduated from high school. Elden started building another house in Mott the summer of 1984 before his son Lee got married and moved to the farm. After Elden and Lucille moved to Mott and lived in their new home someone asked Elden how he liked living in town, he replied "it's OK, I get to go home every day."  He always felt that the farm was his true home.

He started his education at a country school a mile from his farm. He later went to Mott High School where he played on the basketball team and graduated in 1949.  After high school he worked in Mott as a butcher in the grocery store until he was drafted. He was in the US Army from 1952-1954 during the Korean Conflict, where he worked as an ambulance driver. He tells stories of having to drive without lights so they weren't seen by the enemy. He didn't talk much about what he saw, the events were just too painful to remember.

After the war he returned to the farm and began the work he continued until he was 85. During this time he met, dated, and married Lucille Auch. Elden was a faithful, loving husband and father of their two children, Colleen and Lee.  He was also a wonderful grandfather to his four grandsons and one granddaughter, making many visits to see them and watching their many sporting events.

Elden's hobby was woodworking. He designed and created many beautiful picture frames, shadow boxes, and other art work which he gave to his family. He also made several wooden plant stands and candlesticks that he donated to New Leipzig Baptist church. Elden loved his church and was faithful to his God until the very end. His love of God's word led him to be an active member of Gideon's International where he placed New Testaments at schools, hotels, and hospitals.

Elden entered the Good Samaritan Nursing in September of 2016 and was there until his passing on Friday, October 26, 2018.  The staff who really got to know him often commented that he was a very kind and thankful person with a surprisingly good sense of humor. Elden will be greatly missed by friends and family alike!

Elden is survived by his son Lee (Renell) Grosz, Mott, ND; daughter Colleen (David) Zeman, Brookings, SD; grandchildren Erik "Hank" (Hillary) Zeman, Charlottesville, VA; Angie (Brody) Johnson, Bozeman, MT; Clint (Allison) Grosz, Amidon, ND; Tyler (Rachel) Grosz, Mott, ND; Jay Grosz, Dickinson, ND; great-grandchildren Hale Elden and Greta Lee Grosz; brother Morris (LaDonna) Grosz, Goodridge, MN; sisters Diana (Vohn) Decker, Huron, SD; and Maryann Lennick, Carlsbad, CA.

He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Freda (Auch) Grosz, wife Lucille, brother and sister-in-law Walter and Loretta Grosz, and brother-in-law Robert Lennick.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established.