Elaine Mae Minerich

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful mother, Elaine Mae Minerich. Elaine passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 13, 2022, one month before her 102nd birthday, with her children Lanie & Allen by her side.

Elaine was born on December 15,1920 in Seattle, Washington to Alfred & Lillian (Krueger) Lee. She grew up in the Seattle area before her family moved to Cle Elum, where she graduated from Cle Elum High School.

Elaine helped with the war effort during World War II, serving with the local rationing board. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Tony Minerich, and they married on August 9, 1946. They made their home in Roslyn where Tony was a coal miner and later moved to Enumclaw when the Roslyn coal mines closed. While in Enumclaw, Elaine worked for the Government Services Administration, retiring in the mid 1970’s.

Following retirement, Elaine and Tony moved back to South Cle Elum where she and Tony built a home and where she lived until her passing. Elaine loved tending to her beautiful yard and her flower beds - being in her flower garden was her joy. Elaine enjoyed crocheting, ceramics, drawing and was still working on her craft project at her home. She also never was one to turn down a good, rowdy game of cards with her family. She loved being with her sisters Eleanor and Marguerite - they were quite the trio! Elaine also enjoyed spending time with her children and grandkids. She was recently blessed nine months ago with a great-grandson, Harrison Rustvold. She loved visiting with him and doing face time on the phone.

Elaine frequently said that she was “not outgoing”, but you could always find her involved in many things within the Roslyn community, including the Roslyn Eagles and American Legion Auxiliaries, the annual Croatian Picnic and as an active parishioner of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Roslyn.

We would like to give a special thank you to her wonderful caregiver and friend Carolyn Bednar who, without her, our mom would not have been able to stay in her own home.  We also wish to thank her wonderful neighbors - Les & Megan Nelson and Sam Krahenbuhl - for their love and support to her.

Elaine is survived by her children Allen (Linda) Minerich of Cle Elum and Laine (Kevin) Rustvold of Enumclaw; grandchildren Davene, Heather, Allen, Jr., Ashley and Brian; great-grandson Harrison Rustvold and her sister, Marguerite Stancik. She was preceded in death by parents; husband Tony and her twin sister Eleanor Neiland.

Mom will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday December 3, 2022 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cle Elum with burial to follow at Laurel Hill Memorial Park.  A reception will follow the graveside at the Cle Elum Eagles. 

Memorial contributions in Elaine’s honor are suggested to Life Support, PO Box 264, South Cle Elum, WA 98943.

Johnston & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory of Cle Elum has been entrusted with caring for Mrs. Elaine Minerich and her family.  Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com