Elaine Sylvia Englert

Elaine Englert of Yucaipa, mother to six daughters, grandmother to seven grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, died on October 6th at the age of 97. Elaine was born in Hillman, Minnesota, in 1922, where she grew up on a farm. She knew how to milk a cow, pump water in icy weather, and plant potatoes--and she didn't like any of it. When Elaine was nine years old, her mother died leaving her father with 7 young children to raise. Elaine stayed on the farm for 7 more years helping to raise her younger brother and eventually her 6 half brothers. When she was 16, she moved to Minneapolis where she met the love of her life, Ray Wilson. They later married in Chicago. Elaine and Ray moved around a bit and eventually ended up in Southern California, settling in the quiet town of Rialto. Elaine contributed to the family’s income by working at Avon, Electron, and finally retiring from Laymon’s Candy Company in Colton, CA, in 1969. Ray died in 1970 leaving Elaine with two children still at home. In 1973 Elaine struck up a relationship with a man she knew as a child in Minnesota, Alfred Englert. They married in 1974 and moved to San Bernardino. Alfred died in 1979, leaving Elaine a widow once again. Elaine never remarried and in 1996 she moved to Yucaipa where she met and had a 20 year relationship with her great friend and neighbor, John Hanson. Elaine was a people person. She loved to talk about her childhood on the farm. She would tell stories of their cows; remembering all of their names. Her favorites were Liney, Snowball, Mavis, and Avis. Liney had a line down her back. Snowball was white. Mavis and Avis were their blue ribbon cows. She would talk about how scared she was, running through the pasture at top speed to get past the huge snorting bull with the flaring nostrils. She had a way of making listeners feel like they were right there with her, feeling the bull’s breath on their neck. And then there were the stories of their barn cat whose name, of course, was Barney. She had a great sense of humor. She once told a pest control man when he asked if the problem was carpenter ants, “I didn’t see them wearing any tool-belts.” She will be remembered for her sharp wit, her discerning sense of style, and her love for her children and grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Ray Wilson, husband Alfred Englert, long-time companion John Hanson, and daughter, Elaine Briggs. She leaves behind her daughters: Cathie Cadmus (Gordon), Velma Hansen (Peter), Randalyn Lothamer (Gary), Cynthia Leja (Steve), and Nancy Denhalter (Brett); Grandchildren: Jeff Stapelfeld, Rick Bernotas, Holly Woods, Aubrey Yarbrough, Ashley Kramer, Samuel and Noah Denhalter; Great Grandchildren: Jacob Bernotas, Riley Beatty, Dawson O’Connor, and Koa Kramer. Funeral Services will be private.