Elaine Hendrickson

Elaine was born on June 4, 1939, in Republic, to the late Wilfred and Martha (Jarvi) Luoto. She grew up in Republic and graduated from Republic High School in 1957.

Following graduation, Elaine married Wesley Hendrickson on Sept. 7, 1957, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Republic. They shared 52 years together before he preceded her in death in 2009.

She went on to earn her teaching degree in 1969 from Northern Michigan University, while raising two little boys. She began her teaching career at the Niagara School District, she then taught for many years at Garden Village Elementary in Kingsford until they built the new Woodland Elementary school, where she taught second grade until her retirement in 1999.

Elaine was an active member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church and was also a member of the Dickinson County Pilots Association for many years. In addition, she enjoyed participating with the Finnish American Raja Ryhma group in Iron Mountain. She was always busy doing something and never sat still unless she was watching football. Elaine was always on the go, whether it was meeting friends for breakfast, lunch or dinner, going to the movies or exercise classes. She was an avid downhill skier and could be found on the slopes at Pine Mountain every winter into her 70s.

She enjoyed traveling and had the opportunity to visit many places as well as several other countries. Elaine had numerous hobbies throughout her lifetime such as golfing, canoeing, swimming, racquetball, line-dancing and cross country skiing. She wasn’t afraid to try anything, including skydiving, which unfortunately, due to weather conditions, she wasn’t able to jump but she was all suited up and ready to go.

In her spare time, she enjoyed camping, baking, walking and spending time with friends and family, especially her grandchildren who knew her as “Gramalaine.” Her grandkids have fond memories of the countless days she spent baking with them when they were little.

Elaine is survived by two sons, Duane (Leslie) Hendrickson and Derwin Hendrickson; a daughter, Stacy (Butch) Schinderle; four grandchildren, Hannah Hendrickson, Sophia, Dominic and Geno Schinderle; one brother, Dennis (Randi) Luoto; three sisters-in-law, Diane Luoto, Sue Hendrickson and Alice Hendrickson; a brother-in-law, Lester (Carolyn) Hendrickson; several nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends, including her best friend, Inez Riverside.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Wilfred ‘Buddy’ Luoto; an infant brother, Billy Boy; brothers-in-law, Melvin ‘Memo” and Patricia ‘Patsy’ Hendrickson, Kenneth Hendrickson and Curtis Hendrickson, a sister-in-law, Kathy Hendrickson and her father and mother-in-law, Otto and Esther Hendrickson.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the church. Rev. Nick Hopman will officiate. Burial will be at Republic Cemetery.

Elaine’s family would like to thank the staff in the memory care unit at Evergreen Senior Living for the care they provided over the past three and a half years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Elaine Mary Hendrickson online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.