Elaine Marilyn Manstrom

Elaine Marilyn Manstrom, 73, of Valley City, ND passed away August 4, 2019 at Eventide in Fargo under the care of hospice with her family by her side. Elaine was born May 27, 1946 in Valley City to Harold and Lisabet (Lovaas) Lockwood. She grew up in Kathryn, ND and graduated in 1964 from Kathryn High School. Elaine continued her education at Valley City State College earning her bachelor’s degree in education and a minor in music and English. Elaine loved music and enjoyed playing trumpet in the VCSC marching band. She became an excellent piano player and even taught piano to students. Later in her career, she went back to earn a Reading Certification for Title One Reading. Elaine married Leslie Manstrom in 1967 and eventually made their home on a farm south of Valley City. They had one daughter, Bethany. Elaine worked hard all of her life and really had a passion for teaching. Her teaching career began at Jefferson Elementary School in Valley City teaching music for one year. Elaine then taught music in Fingal, ND to help complete the school year when their teacher was unable. She took a short break from teaching to raise her beloved daughter and assist Les on the farm. Elaine did everything from bottle feeding new calves and tending cattle to being a regular behind the wheel of a grain truck. When Bethany was in elementary school, Elaine went back to teaching in Kathryn where she taught music and seventh and eighth grade English. During this time, Elaine and her students put on spectacular musical productions, which drew large crowds from the surrounding communities. She put many hours of work into these performances, but was always very humble about her role and was so proud of her students. Elaine shared in administrative duties in 1990-1991 as the Kathryn school was preparing to close. Elaine then hit the road and commuted to Verona, ND for seven years and then finished her career in Litchville, ND. After seven years there, her heart as kind and generous as it was, started giving Elaine trouble, forcing her to retire from teaching. Elaine loved going on drives around the country side and looking at crops with Les. She also loved Mexican food and spending time with her friends. Elaine enjoyed bingo and more often than not, she came out a winner. She was also an avid reader and always had crossword puzzles and word find books with her. She is survived by her husband Les of Valley City; daughter Bethany (Kendall) Harms; grandsons; Seth Fontaine and Owen Harms; and step grandsons, Ben and Jacob Harms, all of Grand Forks, ND. Elaine is also survived by her brother Harold (Erin) Lockwood of Kenai, AK; brother-in-law, Vern Rohde, Anchorage, AK; and many nieces and nephews. Elaine is preceded in death by her parents, sister Laura Rohde, grandparents and many aunts and uncles. A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 am Monday, August 12, 2019 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Valley City. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Burial will be in Memory Gardens, Valley City. Elaine’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the swing bed staff and the Occupational and Physical Therapists of Mercy Hospital, Valley City. Also, another special thank you to the staff of Eventide and Hospice of the Red River Valley for the exceptional care they provided to Elaine and her family. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City, North Dakota. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com

Elaine Marilyn Manstrom

May 27, 1946 - August 4, 2019