Elaine M. Allen (nee Anderson), 94, passed away at Accura HealthCare, Aurelia, on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Meriden Evangelical Free Church. Pastor Nelson Jenkins and Pastor Larry Ostercamp will officiate. Private family burial will be held prior to the service at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee on Friday, Jan. 30 at 9:30 a.m. Visitation with the family present will take place Thursday, Jan. 29, from 5-7 p.m. at Boothby Funeral Home, located at 207 E. Main St. in Cherokee.
Elaine was born on Sept. 24, 1931, on the family farm near Meriden to Nelse and Esther (Odelius) Anderson. Growing up, Elaine loved sewing clothes for her dolls and learning how to cook many traditional Swedish dishes from her mother. After graduating from Cleghorn High School in 1949, she worked as a secretary for Miller Mac Insurance.
Elaine met the love of her life, Lowell Allen, at the Cherokee roller rink. They were married on Oct. 21, 1951, at the Little Brown Church near Nashua, and enjoyed a wonderful 73 years together. They raised three daughters on their farms north of Meriden.
As a housewife, she expressed her creativity through gardening, painting, refinishing furniture and trying out new recipes. Having become an accomplished seamstress, her sewing machine became an almost constant fixture on the dining room table, as she sewed sports jackets for Lowell and dresses for her daughters. After her children were grown, she opened Crafts, Etc. in Cherokee. Later she focused on restoring dolls at her shop, Elaine's Dolls.
Elaine and Lowell grew their faith together at Meriden Evangelical Free Church, where she taught Sunday School and helped with crafts during Vacation Bible School.
Elaine and Lowell wintered in Texas for many years, and while there she became involved with Pharr South's drama club, acting in skits and sewing many costumes for their productions. Together, they taught dance classes for the other residents of their community.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Lowell Allen; daughter Sandra Janssen; siblings: Eva (Bernell) Halstrom, Dorothy (Henry) Uhl and Kenneth (Betty) Anderson.
Elaine is survived by two daughters, Kathleen Allen (Richard Bell) of Omaha, Neb.; and Linda (Dennis) Paslay of North Aurora, Ill.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; son-in-law Dennis Janssen of Donnellson; and sister-in-law Kay Allen of Le Mars.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in Elaine's honor to Meriden Evangelical Free Church.
