Ernie was born in Strasburg on July 2, 1946 the son of Andrew and Ottilia (Hulm) Geffre. He graduated from St. Benedict Catholic High School and was drafted into the US Army for two years. Ernie married Sandra Vander Vorst on August 28, 1969 at Westfield, ND. Together they had three children. He worked at Northern Improvement, Strasburg Farmers Elevator and Emmons County Road Crew. Ernie retired in 2013. Ernie was a member of Strasburg Lions Club, Strasburg Wildlife Club, Strasburg Park Board, American Legion Post 0054, and Amvets. He was a member of the Strasburg Fire Department and had served as fire chief during those years. The Strasburg Fire Department was very important to him and he was recently honored for his years of service. Ernie also loved spending time with his grandchildren.Ernie is survived by his wife, Sandra, Strasburg, two sons and daughters-in-law, Craig and Sheila Geffre, Bismarck, ND and Eddie and Tricia Geffre, Detroit Lakes, MN, one daughter and son-in-law, Sheila and Tom Wagner of Strasburg, six grandchildren, Jake, Addison and Carson Wagner, Ethan Geffre and Ava and Ivy Geffre, one brother, Ronald Geffre of La Palma, CA as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Wilfred, Anton F. and Thomas, three sisters, Isabel Grinsteiner, Alvina Scherr- Vetter and Tillie Wagner, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Minnie and Ed C. Vander Vorst, an Uncle, Anton Hulm and an infant grandson (Wagner).