Herbert L Scheffler

Herb Scheffler was born on April 10, 1936, to Fritz and Catherine (Braton) Scheffler in Barnesville, MN.  He was raised on the family farm and attended Barnesville Schools graduating in 1954.  The summer of 1954 he went to work for Kaiser Construction of Faribault, MN as they were installing curb and gutter in Barnesville.  Herb continued to work for Kaiser until the fall of 1957 when he attended the winter quarter of college at Mankato State.  He returned to work for Kaiser until 1959 when he enlisted in the Army.  Herb was stationed at Fort Lewis, WA.   After his discharge in 1961, he once again returned to work for Kaiser back in Minnesota.  While working he met Kenny Weber of Sanborn, MN and would spend weekends in Sanborn with the Weber family.  In 1962, Herb and Kenny purchased a 160-acre farm NW of Sanborn which they farmed together.  While in Sanborn one weekend, he met Donalee Missling at a dance at the Avalon Ballroom in Sanborn.  The couple dated for a couple of years and were married on June 15, 1963, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jeffers, MN.  They lived in a small trailer house in Faribault, and both worked for Kaiser until 1965 when they moved to Lamberton.  Herb went to work for Fox Brothers in Sanborn.  Herb and Donalee moved their trailer house to the farm NW of Sanborn in December of 1965.  He built a building with the help of Kenny and Wayne Weber, and he started Herb’s Repair business.  Herb hired his first employee, Gilbert Batzlaff, one year later and Donalee did the bookkeeping.  In 1967, he purchased his first road grader for $1,200 and after some repairs started grading Charlestown Township roads.  In 1970, Herb started L&S Construction with Jim Lang when they bought out Werner and Unzeitig, a gravel hauling company.  They hauled gravel to township roads and private parties which developed into excavation and demolition work.  In 1978, the couple took 100% ownership of L&S Construction.  In 2006 Red Rock Quarry was started between Herb and David Milbrath.  Herb was also an integral part of the building of Farmer’s Golf & Health Club in Sanborn.

Herb and Donalee raised 3 children Julie, Mike, and Kurt in their trailer house until 1972 when they built a new house which was completed in 1974.  Herb loved his work and never worked a day in his life as he enjoyed it greatly.  He loved visiting with people, attending his grandchildren’s events and games and enjoyed “coffee stops” at local businesses.  Herb was known for his one liners and his witty sense of humor.  He was a member of the Sanborn American Legion and Zion Lutheran Church where he was active on the church and school boards.

Herb died on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at the Sleepy Eye Medical Center, at the age of 87.

He is survived by his wife Donalee Scheffler; daughter - Julie Scheffler; sons - Mike (Kristi) Scheffler and Kurt (Emily) Scheffler; grandchildren - Kendall (Chris) Koep, Cooper (Samantha) Scheffler, Decker Scheffler, and Maia Scheffler; great grandchildren Crew and Camdyn Koep and Noah Jo Scheffler; and sisters - Barbara Ohm, Renee (Paul) Anderson, Betty (Jim) Klande, and Bonnie (Jeff) Gaver.  Herb was preceded in death by his parents; sister Arylis Kirkeby, brothers-in-law Bob Ohm and Oliver Kirkeby; and parents-in-law Harold and Agnes Missling.