Lakeville, Minn.: A service of remembrance for Elery H. Scherbenske, 85, of Lakeville and a former 50-year resident of Ashley, N.D., will be 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Ashley. Pastor Joddy Meidinger will officiate.
There will be a prayer service Thursday at 7 p.m., with visitation from 5 to 7 p.m., at the funeral home.
Interment will be at Lehr City Cemetery in Lehr, N.D.
Elery passed on to his eternal home at Highview Hills Retirement Home in Lakeville on Thursday, July 25, 2013, with his family at his side.
Elery Scherbenske was born Feb. 5, 1928, to G.G. and Rose (Nagel) Scherbenske on a farm in Logan county north of Lehr. He graduated from Lehr High School in 1946 and went on to pursue his education at Jamestown College and taught school for several years before going back to college at Dakota Business College in Fargo, N.D., after which he worked as head bookkeeper at Casselton Motors in Casselton, N.D.
He married Lorna Hoirup in Lehr in 1950, and then briefly worked for the Thompson Lumber Yard before going back to Jamestown College to further his education. He taught school at Lehr, Streeter, Hettinger, and Ashley. In 1963, he purchased the Ashley Livestock Sales Barn with partner Clifford Goebel and later partner Erv Flaten and operated that business for the next 18 years.
He enjoyed this work very much, as he liked working with the area farmers. During all of this time, he raised and raced thoroughbred race horses and after selling the sales barn in 1982. He raced full time in places such as Winnipeg, Denver, Cleveland, Chicago and Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.
Elery was instrumental in getting the North Dakota Thoroughbred Association started to promote the thoroughbred breeding industry in the state. He held many offices in that organization. One year, he was named the Outstanding Horseman in the state of North Dakota by this organization.
He enjoyed small-town life in Ashley and the many people he knew there. The joy in his life was caring for his horses and having the horse racing profession in common with his son, Percy, whom he spent much time with at the race tracks where they raced. They shared many good times and experiences together. He also enjoyed the company of his grey poodle, "Smokey Dakota."
Elery was a member of the Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Ashley and held many offices over the years, including Sunday school superintendent, Outreach and Missions chairman, and was a member of the Administrative Board for many years. He also was a longtime member of the local Lions Club.
Elery is survived by his son, Percy (Julie) Scherbenske, Hampton Minn.; two granddaughters: Kim (Jesse) Kruger, New Bern, N.C., and Jodi Snyder, Farmington, Minn.; three great-grandchildren: Elizabeth and Kyle Snyder and Sonya Kruger; one brother, Marlow (Marlys) Scherbenske of Lehr; two nephews: Mark (Jill) Scherbenske, Lehr, and Marlow Jr. (Janet) Scherbenske, Rapid City; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Muriel and Elmer Lautt, Lodi, Calif.
Elery was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Lorna, in 2010.
Casketbearers will be: Stanley Dobler, Mark Scherbenske, Marlow Scherbenske Jr., Erv Flaten, Jimmy Graff and Eric Meidinger.
Carlsen Funeral Home of Ashley has been entrusted with arrangements.
carlsenfh.com