He was son of John and Minnie Beek of Sibley.
In 1950, the 20-year-old was deployed by the U.S. Army to defend the Chosin Reservoir, a lake in North Korea, where his unit was overrun by enemy forces in fighting during the Korean War.
Although he was named among the casualties, his remains could not be recovered until recently, leaving his parents, siblings and eventually nieces and nephews to wonder what had happened.
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified Eldertâs remains earlier this year, providing closure to a family that had held out hope until the end.