By Lori Ehde
Long-time Luverne resident Elizabeth Eberlein died Wednesday, May 29, from injuries she received when a golf ball struck her in the head.
Eberlein, who has lived in Redwood Falls since 1995, was golfing at the Redwood Falls Golf Club Monday, May 20 when the accident occurred.
According to the Redwood Gazette News, Eberlein was playing the ninth hole when a ball from a group playing behind her hit her in the temple as she stood in a gully below the green.
"One of the first individuals to respond to the accident was her grandson and local golf pro, Andy Stoterau," the report in the Gazette stated.
"She was immediately rushed into surgery to remove a major blood clot, as well as to relieve swelling."
She died nine days later.
Her other grandson, Ben Stoterau, is a sports writer for the Gazette. Following Eberlein's death, he wrote a column about his grandmother and about dealing with loss.
He described his grandmother "strong, loving, caring and kind beyond belief," and he detailed events of the day she died.
"My brother, Andy, who is in his first year as Head Pro at the Redwood Falls Golf Club, was there that day. He wasn't scheduled to work; he just happened to be there and thus was the first person on the scene and was able to hold my grandma in his arms," Ben Stoterau wrote.
"She knew who he was and she told him she wasn't in any pain and to tell everybody that she loved them. _Then she closed her eyes."
Eberlein, originally from Iowa, moved to Luverne after marrying Vernon in 1946. She worked for the Selective Service for many years and for Tri-State Insurance Company until she retired.
Services were Saturday in Redwood Falls.