Elaine J. Williams

Elaine J. Williams passed away on February 19, 2024 in Baraboo Wisconsin.

I was born May 12th, 1940, in Powers Lake, North Dakota to Marvin and Esther (Lindberg) Vixo.

My Sister Sharon joined us when I was 2 1/2. At age 6 when I went off to school, a whole new world opened up for me. There I was introduced to other children my age and to reading. As I learned to read, I’d come home and teach Sharon all I knew. She graduated with honors, sadly I did not.

I was steering a tractor around haycocks by the age of 6, so my dad and grandpa could pitch the loose hay onto the wagon. My parents felt I needed to keep busy. During my younger years, I was involved with 4-H which resulted in a scrapbook of ribbons and rewards. I took part in Luther League and was confirmed at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in the spring of 1955. I went to both 4-H and Bible camps at Lake Metigoshe in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota.

Mowing, gardening, hauling, picking, sewing, and baking occupied my time on the farm. There were very little idle hours as I was editor of our school paper, president of the Pep Club, and a drummer in both the school band and the marching band. Upon graduating from high school, I immediately entered summer school at Minot State Teachers College, and began working toward my 4-year degree in Elementary Education and Home economics and English.  I graduated in 1965.

My small claim to fame is that I've traveled to all 50 states. My larger claim is that I’m the mother of 3 sons, (Brad born in 1962; Brian in 1964; Blake in 1969) and mother-in-law to 3 special daughter-in laws, Colleen, Birute and Angela.

I don’t remember when Bonnie Sorenson and her parents Marvin and Iris joined my life, but I don’t remember a time without them. Bonnie remains a friend to this day. When my mom married Oliver Tosseth, my boys only knew him as Grandpa, and Sharon and I gained a stepbrother, Larry Tosseth along with his wife Carol. We were blessed again.

My oldest granddaughter told me to put some “spice” in my obituary, so here it comes…Bonnie, Sharon and I would go to a decrepit place called Ponchos, on White earth Creek for Friday night dances. The ranchers in the area would hire young men to work in the summer- haying, branding and fencing. On Friday nights they would join us (starched, shined and with a bit of liquid courage I’m sure) and ask us to dance. They smelled of soap, not a hint of ranch odor. Only their hats and boots gave them away. What fun!!

At this writing, I am 83 years old and a grandmother of 16 (of whom I’m proud to say hold many college degrees and several doctorates). I’m also a great-grandmother of seven.

I will be buried on a windy hill in Powers Lake, North Dakota, from the church of my youth, Holy Cross Lutheran.

I was preceded in death by my Grandparents (Vixo and Lindberg), my father and mother (Marvin and Esther) , my stepfather Oliver Tosseth, and my husband, Edward Williams.

I am survived by my sister, Sharon Vixo, my three sons and their wives, and the aforementioned grandchildren and great grandchildren.

At last count, no one in my family is in the hospital or in prison. I have been truly blessed. I’ve often said that I've lived a Jimmy Stewart Christmas movie. “It’s a Wonderful Life.” See you on the other side.

A public visitation will be held at Redlin-Ertz Funeral Home on Thursday, February 22, 2024 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Childrens Cancer Research.