Eldon Leslie Pust

Obituary

Eldon L. Pust, age 79, died on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the Appleton Care Center in Appleton, Minnesota, surrounded by his family. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Zniewski Funeral Home – Vaala Chapel in Appleton. Visitation will continue from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Hope Reformed Church in Montevideo, Minnesota, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in the Appleton City Cemetery.

Eldon Leslie Pust was born on October 18, 1945, in Montevideo, Minnesota, the son of Gerhard and Martha (Friedrich) Pust. He grew up on his parents’ farm in rural Milan, Minnesota, where he attended school. Eldon went to District 61 County School from first through sixth grade. He then attended grades seven through twelve in Appleton, Minnesota, graduating from Appleton High School in 1963. He worked on the farm for a year before attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. Eldon studied agricultural mechanization, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1971. On June 25, 1971, Eldon married the love of his life, Shirley Ann Bender at the United Church of Christ in Scotland, South Dakota. Rev. Dale Krampe officiated the ceremony. Eldon lived in rural Milan and worked on the family farm until he married Shirley. After they married, Eldon and Shirley moved to a farm in rural Appleton where they raised their four children.

Eldon farmed his entire career. In the early years he farmed with his dad, Gerhard, and his brother, Harold. After Gerhard retired Eldon continued farming with Harold and in the later years, farmed with his son, Tim. Throughout his career Eldon primarily raised hogs, cattle, corn, and soybeans. Of all the operations on the farm, combining corn was his favorite.

Eldon’s faith in the Lord was an important part of how he lived and how he raised his family. He loved to be a part of strengthening the impact and presence of the church in the community and seeing people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Eldon was active in the churches he attended. At the First Baptist Church in Appleton, he served in many different capacities including deacon, treasurer, AWANA leader, Sunday School teacher, and a youth group leader. He served on various committees, as an elder, and taught Sunday School at Hope Reformed Church in Montevideo. In 2000, Eldon went on a mission trip to Jackson County, Kentucky. He also was active in the prison ministry at Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton. Eldon served on the West Bank Town Board for over 25 years.

Eldon favorite hobby was camping with his family. His most memorable trip was when he took his family of six in the family station wagon, pulling their pop-up camper over the Rocky Mountains to the west coast and back in the summer of 1988.

Eldon is survived by his wife Shirley Pust of Appleton, MN; children: Melanie (Jason) White of Windsor, CO, Amy (Christopher) Sill of Spirit Lake, IA, Timothy (Natalie) Pust of Milan, MN, and Lori (Andrew) Hoerauf of Fargo, ND; 11 grandchildren: Hannah White, Halle White, Keaira White, Marissa Sill, Logan Sill, Leila Pust, Makiah Pust, Adelyn Pust, Brycen Hoerauf, Raelyn Hoerauf, and Hayden Hoerauf; brother Harold (Patricia) Pust of Montevideo, MN; sister Virginia (Richard) Huppler of Clarksville, TN; and brother-in-law LeRoy (Rosemary) Bender of Scotland, SD. Eldon was preceded in death by his parents Gerhard and Martha Pust, parents-in-law Eugene and Laura Bender, and granddaughter Kendall White.