"Eldon" was born on one of four sections of ranch land that his grandfather and father homesteaded in the Sand Hills region of northern Nebraska,  March 22, 1919.  At that time they ran beef and dairy cattle which Eldon got to start milking at an early age.  He was the eldest of four siblings including  brother Lyman Maurice Lotspeich (deceased),  Ruth Lotspeich Wheeler and Louis Lotspeich Steffens.  His early schooling was interrupted  when his elementary school teacher became pregnant (This was the school policy then).   At the age of  18 yrs. Eldon joined the US army and served in WWII in  Cuba.  He later served his country in the Korean war. He was always proud of his military service & was a real patriot. He was grateful for the good VA assistance he received from Albany's Rob McKibben

Family moved from Nebraska to Missouri and then to Oregon. After working for the Blackwell saw mill,  Eldon owned an auto parts salvage yard in Albany.

Eldon met Barbara Harris in Arizona where he liked to go in the winters to swap meets.  He invited her to Oregon and they became engaged.  He sent her a ticket and they were married when she arrived in Albany  in 1994.   Their marriage was later sealed in the LDS Temple in Portland Oregon. Eldon was very active in the LDS church after his baptism and was a faithful Home Teacher serving in the Albany 2nd Ward.  Barbara passed away in 2009 & Eldon continued to live independently, though blind, until this January when he moved to Hearth & Home AFC. He appreciated the continuing friendship support from  Gary and Edith Bartholomeusz and  Max & Katrina Montgomery who served him faithfully until his passing.

Eldon is survived by his sister Lois Steffan of Salome, AZ, his sister Ruth Wheeler of Salome, AZ, cousin Wilma Henderson of Tangent, OR,  and nephew Gary Wheeler (executor) of Salem, OR. He is also survived by ten other nieces and nephews.