Elaine Eleanor Canfield

Elaine Eleanor Volentine Canfield

Elaine E. Canfield went to be with her Lord on Feb. 20, 2010, at the age of 93. Elaine passed away peacefully at the Niobrara Health and Life Center in Lusk where she had been a resident for the last five and a half years, with her daughter Dorothy and good friend Lee Mathews at her side.

Elaine was born at Torrington Hospital on July 7, 1916, to Myrtle E. (Duncan) Volentine and Frank J. Volentine. The family lived in the Burge Community where her sister Hazel was born Sept. 13, 1919. Their mother Myrtle passed away on May 9, 1920 at the Torrington Hospital. Frank Volentine then homesteaded the 1/2 section of the NW Corner of Goshen County and moved his family there shortly after May 9, 1920. Frank's brother and his wife, Edward and Myrtle Mae Volentine, helped Frank raise the girls.

Elaine Eleanor Volentine and Charles B. Canfield were married Dec. 15, 1932, at the Harrison, Nebr. Courthouse. On their way home after being married, a terrible snowstorm came in and their car stalled and they spent their wedding night with a ranch family near the road, but in separate rooms because they were very young and they didn't tell the host that they were married. (I wish I knew this rancher's name.)

Charles and Elaine then bought the Volentine Homestead from Elaine's father in 1933 and raised their family of five children there.

Charles and Elaine drove the school bus to Prairie Center for many years, and Elaine was cook there for several years.

Elaine was a great wife, mother, and cook; and very talented when it came to sewing, crocheting, netting, and many other crafts. She certainly had a green thumb for house plants, and her home was always full of beautiful green and flowering plants and the love of her life as she aged was caring for houseplants. Elaine loved the outdoors, was a good horsewoman, and loved taking care of the livestock, especially at birthing time.

She enjoyed being involved in community activities such as 4-H, and was a member of the Prairie Center and Node Homemakers Clubs, a 60 year member of the Manville Homemakers, and belonged to the War Mothers.

Elaine liked to be involved in family and community gatherings, especially family and friends picnics where most of the entertainment was having a free-for-all water fight, that was the highlight of ending a fun time.

Elaine and her son Kenneth moved into Lusk in the late 1980's, where Ken still lives on 5th Street. Elaine and Ken have delivered the Casper Star Tribune paper route ever since moving to Lusk, continuing even after Elaine entered the Care Center. Ken would go to the Care Center and get Mom around 2:00 a.m. and she would help him deliver the papers until a short time ago. This was a special time for Mom and Ken.

Elaine leaves her daughter Dorothy Canfield Vollmer and friend Lee Mathews of Torrington, Wyo., sons Kenneth W. Canfield and Leroy C. Canfield and wife Jennie of Lusk to mourn the loss of our loved one. She also leaves 12 grandchildren, their spouses and families; 20 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends that will miss her.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband Charles B. Canfield, son Duane E. Canfield, daughter Charlotte E. Baars and her husband Harry Baars and infant daughter, great-granddaughter Tara Vacu, mother Myrtle, dad Frank, sister Hazel Murphy and her husband Leo, Aunt Myrtle and Uncle Ed Volentine, and many, many more family members, including many young nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, at 2 p.m. at Pier Funeral Home in Lusk, with Pastor Tom Strock of the First Baptist Church officiating. Memorials may be made to the Niobrara Health and Life Center.

Pier Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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