Ervin “Erv” Ristau

Ervin “Erv” Ristau, 85, of Carimona Township, died Saturday August 8, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Hospital – St. Marys Campus, Rochester, Minnesota.

Funeral service will be 1 p.m., Friday, August 14 at Christ Lutheran Church in Preston, Minnesota, with Rev. Kris Kincaid. Visitation 11:30-1 prior to the funeral service at the church.  Ervin will be laid to rest at the Carimona Cemetery in Carimona Township, Minnesota. In memory of Ervin, memorials are suggested to Christ Lutheran Church, Preston, Minnesota.

Ervin was born on March 6, 1941, in Carimona Township, Fillmore County Minnesota, in the house he was raised in. The son of August and Ione (Drummond) Ristau. He attended seven years of school at Fillmore County School in Carimona. He attended Preston High School into his senior year. On January 2, 1960, he married Judith Hutton of Chatfield, Minnesota, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatfield, Minnesota. He transferred and graduated from Waseca School of Agriculture in 1960. After graduation he worked for his brother Jack on Jack’s farm, then had a canned milk route for a period of time. Eventually worked at Touhy Furniture in Chatfield for a few years until taking a position at IBM in 1964. While still working at IBM in 1972 Ervin and Judy bought the Ristau home farm.  After he officially retired from IBM, Ervin continued to farm for many more years.  Ervin had many loves in his life; his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, fishing, hunting, their dogs, family gatherings (the man loved to eat, we could never figure out how he stayed so skinny), and the Lanesboro Sales Barn – where he would sell his babied Black Angus steers!!

Ervin is survived by his wife Judy.

His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Daughter, Tona (Tom) Larson of Fountain, Minnesota; their daughter and family Megan (Mike) Lund of Wykoff, Minnesota, Taylor Bushman, Maverick (friend Kennedy Fenske) Bushman, and Daniel Lund; their son and family Nate (Shauna) Larson of St. Augustine, Florida, Tristan Larson and Clair Larson; their son and family Jason (Kristin) Larson of Shakopee, Minnesota, Jameson Larson and Brooks Larson.

Son, Steven (Sandy) Ristau of Austin, Minnesota; their daughter and family Liz (Adam) Machacek of Savage, Minnesota, Barrett Machacek and Hudson Machacek; their daughter Emily (friend Jayden Leuth) Ristau of Rochester.

Son, Ron (Kristi) Ristau of Rochester, Minnesota; their son and family Kellen (Kasey) Anderson of Lakeville, Minnesota, Jonah Anderson and Jack Anderson; their daughter and family Kathryn (Mark) Schmitz of Lakeville, Minnesota, Quinn Iverson and Eleanor Schmitz; their son Colton (friend Ian Warren) Ristau of Minneapolis, Minnesota, their son Will (friend Hannah Sward) Ristau of Rochester, Minnesota.

Daughter, Bonnie (Larry) Tammel of Preston, Minnesota; their daughter and family Jessie (Corey) Latuff of Red Wing, Minnesota, and their little one Harper Latuff; their son Jacob Tammel of Rochester, Minnesota; and their daughter Katie Tammel of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Son, Dean Ristau of Preston, Minnesota; his son Shane and his daughter Tapanga Ristau; his son Shandon Ristau; and his son Braxton Ristau.

Son, Don Ristau (Mary Bielefeld) of Lime Springs, Iowa; their daughter and family Raquel (Allen) Brockmeyer of Decorah, Iowa, and Jillian Brockmeyer, with a little one on the way; their daughter and family Lisa (Eric) Mahr of Jesup, Iowa, Alli Mahr, Audrey Mahr and Avery Mahr; their son and family Scott (Brittney) Tienter of Lime Springs, Tristan Forino, Kolby (Dalton) Gillen of Osage, Iowa, Grayson Tienter and Tatum Gillen, their granddaughter and family Kyleigh (Hunter) McGee of Decorah, Iowa, Liam McGee, Remington McGee, and Evelyn McGee; their grandson Ethan Craig of Lime Springs, Iowa; and their grandson Chase Boydston of Waukon, Iowa.

Ervin is survived by a brother Vernon Ristau of Preston; brothers-in-law Don Hutton, Jim Hutton, Peter Hutton, Dennis Hutton, Bob Hutton, Doug Hutton, and Dave Manahan; sisters-in-law Kay Ristau, Dee Hutton, Marylin Hutton, Lois Hutton, Kay Phetteplace, Mary Jo Manahan, Sue Hutton; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents August and Ione Ristau and great-granddaughter Blakeley Larson.

Ervin was preceded in death by his brothers Arnold Ristau, Kenneth Ristau, Paul Ristau; sisters Esther Conlan, Ione Carstensen, and Evelyn McGrand; sisters-in-law Barb Ristau, Ardith Ristau, Rita Ristau, Tina Hutton, Kaye Hutton, Janet Hutton; and brothers-in-law Kenneth Conlan, Paul Carstensen, Gary Hutton and Jim Phetteplace.