Elaine Ida Farr left her earthly home on May 16, 2024, at the age of 81 at the Lexington Regional Health Center. She lived on farms south of Eustis, first with her parents and siblings and then with her husband and daughters. They moved to Elwood due to Floyd’s health in 1987. Elaine continued to live in her home until her passing.
Elaine was born at the Elwood hospital to Cornelius and Ida (nee Schutz) Pfeiffer on January 8, 1943, and was the 7th of 10 children. She was baptized on March 8, 1943, and confirmed at the Salem Lutheran Church in Frontier County on May 6, 1956. Elaine attended Salem Parochial School through the 8th grade. She then attended Elwood High School and graduated with the Class of 1960. She married Floyd Ernest Farr on September 23, 1962, at Salem Lutheran Church. To this union two children were born: Ronda Sue and Shelli Renee. Elaine and Floyd had a big reception for their 25th anniversary in September of 1987. Floyd passed away April 18, 1988.
Right after high school, she worked for the Gosper County Judge and then the Gosper County Assessor until Ronda was born. She also was a part time church secretary, cleaned the District 15 school house, worked at the ASCS Office in Elwood, and in May of 1988, she joined at the Gosper County Sheriff's Department as office manager/dispatcher. She continued to work there until her retirement in January 2013 at the age of 70. She also assumed the position of Executive Director of the Elwood Housing Authority for several years.
Elaine loved to go dancing which is where she met Floyd, play the piano by ear (she never used sheet music), watch cardinals, play cards, and eat dill pickles. In fact, she accepted home canned dill pickles from her sister, Dolores, as payment for babysitting. She was a voracious reader and consumed books as fast as she could type, which was very, very fast. Also, when she used an adding machine, her fingers were a blur. With all her loves, however, her family was her pride and joy. She was a loving and patient caretaker of her husband and her daughter, Shelli, during their multiple health issues and was a strong advocate for their medical care. Shelli passed away in 2013. She grieved greatly for the loss of them, as well as the loss of her granddaughter, Natalie Ann. Ronda, her daughter, was her best friend and assumed the role of caretaker and medical advocate for her mother when her health issues appeared.
She was a member of Salem Lutheran Church and then joined Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elwood where she attended several Bible studies. One of her ways to witness for her church was by teaching Midweek school. She continued as a member of Our Redeemer until her death.
Elaine is survived by her daughter, Ronda (Brett) Whittaker of Eustis; brothers, Dale (Pat) Pfeiffer of Colorado Springs, & Lloyd Pfeiffer of Arapahoe; sisters, Ardella Brand, of Holdrege & Dorthea (LaMoyne) Niemeier of Elwood. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Marilyn Schneider of Elwood; special daughter, Teresa Eckert of Lincoln; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her daughter, Shelli; her granddaughter, Natalie; her parents; her parents-in-law, William & Velma Farr; sister, Dolores Oelkers and twin newborn sisters; brothers, Lyle Pfeiffer & Alvin Pfeiffer; sisters-in-law, Lois Pfeiffer, Bonnie Pfeiffer, Isabelle Pfeiffer, & Erma Pfeiffer; brothers-in-law, Art Oelkers, Duane Brand, & Robert Schneider; niece, Cristy Niemeier, & nephew, Dwight Pfeiffer.
Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church or Shriner’s. Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Elwood Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Aaron Witt officiating. Burial will follow at Salem Cemetery West. Visitation with family present will be Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Elwood Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Berryman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.