Obituary of Elsie Mae Langhoff

Langhoff (Seeker), Elsie Mae 97, of Edina, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 30, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 1922 in Sioux Falls, SD. Elsie and Gordon were married Sept 8, 1949. Elsie was a bubbly, cheerful waitress that could often be heard singing softly as she served her customers at Woolworth's for 26 years. We were all blessed with her loving infectious smile, compassionate spirit and generous heart. She will be with us all forever and never forgotten. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Langhoff; parents, Sherman Noah Seeker and Mary Marie Biel; sisters, Ethel Seeker, Karen Sardonis, Betty Burns, Shirley Murzyn, Nellie Briechle (Tosier), Donna Burns; brother, Sherman Seeker; daughter-in-law, Nancy, granddaughter, Andree Therese; grandson, Noah Thomas; She is survived by her siblings; Patti Myers, Beverly McCulla, Judi Stone, Barbara Seeker; children, Gregg Langhoff, Dennis (Mary) Langhoff, Diane (Tommy) Jackson, Lori (Mickey) Fischer, David Langhoff; Loving grandchildren; Jesse, Michael, MaryAnne, Jared, Sarah, Matthew, Elizabeth, Jason, Janelle, Keleigh, Dylan, Gretchen, Precious great grandchildren; Claire, Thomas, Katherine, Carter, Mallorie, Gabbie, Alex, Ava, Mia, Allison, Zaius, Sophia, Riley, Zoe, Ethan and many other friends and relatives past and present whose photos cover every inch of wall space in her apartment. Interment with service at Ft. Snelling Nat'l Cemetery and celebration of her life at a later time. Memorial donations in memory of Elsie can be made either online or by mail to: The Mayflower Society, P.O. Box 3297, Plymouth, MA 02361 or Daughters of the American Revolution, P.O. Box 98286, Washington, D.C. 20090-8286.

When I was looking through some of the paperwork my Mom had given me several weeks back, I discovered a poem tucked in with my Mom and Dad’s birth certificates and a letter from Fort Snelling verifying her burial site with Dad. Its obvious she felt this poem was important and  something she wanted to share.

How Do You Live Your Dash?

I read of a woman who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. She referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning to the end. She noted that first came her date of birth and spoke the following date with tears, But she said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own, the cars…the house…the cash, what matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard…Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left, That can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough To consider what’s true and real, And always try to understand The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger, And show appreciation more And love the people in our lives Like we’ve never loved before. If we treat each other with respect, And more often wear a smile. Remembering that this special dash Might only last awhile.

So, when your eulogy’s being read With your life’s actions to rehash…Would you be proud of all the things they say About how you spent your dash?

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