Elaine Joyce Maynard

Elaine J. Maynard, age 92, Watertown, formerly of rural Clark County, died peacefully with family at her side on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at the Jenkins Living Center in Watertown.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, from 5-7PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark, and after 9AM on Wednesday, May 10 at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 10 at 10:30AM at Grace Lutheran Church with The Reverend Janet Miller officiating. Honorary casketbearers will be Mrs. Maynard's  former students, as well as the residents & staff of Jenkins Living Center.  The active casketbearers will be nephews Steven Maas, David Maynard, John Maynard, Mark Maynard, Matthew Maynard, & George Peterson. Following a luncheon in the church fellowship hall, burial will be in the South Elrod Cemetery in Elrod Township.

She was born Elaine Joyce Hansen on August 29, 1924, in Eveleth, MN, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants, Hilmar and Gulborg (Loftus) Hansen.  Elaine graduated from Hibbing High School in Hibbing, MN.  She continued her education at St. Olaf College and graduated in 1945 with degrees in English and Biology. Following college, Elaine worked for Homme Children's Home in Wittenberg, WI, and then with the ELC Department of Charities in Minneapolis, MN. While doing graduate work in Minneapolis, Elaine shared a house with Anna Maynard (Peterson), who was working toward a nursing degree at the University of Minnesota.  Anna introduced Elaine to her brother Ralph.  Elaine and Ralph were married on September 23, 1950, in Hibbing, MN.

The couple settled in Elrod township, where Ralph farmed.  Elaine taught high school English at Henry and Garden City and also was an accomplished pianist. She played and her husband Ralph sang for hundreds of weddings, funerals and other programs throughout the area for many years.  Ralph died on January 12, 1993. After his death, Elaine lived on the farm for several years, and then moved to the Town View Apartments at Watertown. She spent the last 14 years as a resident of Jenkins Living Center in Watertown.

Preceding Elaine in death were her parents; her husband Ralph Maynard; two of her daughters, Carol Fuller and Joanna Sangl; her sister and brother-in-law, Maxine and Graydon Stromme; her sister, Winifred Haglund; and her brother-in-law Ronald Mayry.

Elaine is survived by her children, Mary Maynard (Phil Erwin) of St. Louis Park, MN; Kristi Maynard (Tim Olderr) of Honolulu, HI;  Joel Maynard of Minnetonka, MN; Jeanette (Gregg) Nelson, of St. Paul, MN; and Sharon (O.B.) Ray, of Antelope, CA; her sister Muriel Mayry, of Iron, MN; her brother-in-law Ron Haglund of Aitkin, MN;  as well as two sons-in-law, Richard Fuller of Clark, SD; and Randy Sangl of Watertown, SD.  Elaine has 11 grandchildren, Jessica (Michael) Fletcher, Shepherdstown, WV; Deirdre Whitman (Colter Ouradnik), Watertown, SD; Elizabeth (Robert) Linneman, Watertown, SD;  John Sangl, Watertown, SD; Sarah, Michael, & Jonathan Olderr, Honolulu, HI; Anders & Kristian Nelson, St. Paul, MN; Zachary (Stephanie) Ray,  Roseville, CA; and Katherine (Brandon) Paul, Chico, CA.  She also has 10 great-grandchildren, Anna, Jakob, Eric, & Joel Fletcher, Oliver Whitman, Eva, Lily, & Ethan Linneman, and Isaac & Gabriella Ray.  Also surviving are beloved in-laws, Mitzi Maynard, Barbara Maynard, Betty Maynard and Norman and Norma Maynard, as well as many nieces and nephews and their extended families. Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com