Elaine Meier, 96, of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, April 1, 2024, at her home at Lakeshore Estates in Sauk Centre.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 6, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with the Rev. Mark Botzet officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be 10-10:45 a.m. April 6 at the church.
Elaine Margaret Neville was born Dec. 29, 1927, at her parent’s farm near Olivia. Her parents were Michael J. Neville and Kathryn Dillon. She was the fifth child in a family of six. Elaine attended elementary school in District 73 in Renville County and two years at the Aloysianum Catholic Grade School in Olivia. She was a student four years at the Olivia Public School and graduated as valedictorian in 1944. Elaine enrolled in the Teacher Training Program at Glencoe and after one year of training accepted employment in District 126 and later in District 73 in Renville County.
She married Donald Meier Aug. 25, 1948. Donald was a student at Elgin Watchmakers College in Elgin, Illinois. They remained in Elgin until August 1949 when Donald began a three-year apprenticeship in a jewelry store in Luverne. In 1953, the couple purchased a jewelry store in Bird Island and later purchased Meier’s Jewelry in Sauk Centre in 1959. In the ensuing years, Elaine taught 19 years in the Chapter I/Title I federal program after receiving many credits in remedial work from St. Cloud State College. She taught remedial math and reading, in first through fifth grades, until retiring in 1991.
Elaine was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre where she served as a Eucharistic minister and was part of the faith sharing group. She was a member of the Christian Mothers, Gradatim Federated Women’s Club, Stearns County Homemakers, Sauk Centre Seniors and R.E.A.M.
Survivors include her children Daniel (Susie) Meier of Charlotte, North Carolina, Lawrence (Clare Dingley) Meier of St. Paul and Leanne Meier of White Bear Lake; and three grandchildren Michelle Meier, Patrick Meier and Karla Meier.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Meier; parents; brother John Neville; and sisters Marietta Rozeske, Lucille Neville, Clare Kodet and Evelyn Nere.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
