Elaine J. Face

Elaine J. Face, 83 of Fargo, ND passed away at Essentia Hospital July 27, 2021, surrounded by family and friends.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM with the Celebration of Life service following at 11:00 AM, Monday, August 2, 2021 at Olivet Lutheran Church, 1330 University Dr. S., Fargo, ND where she was a member for over 50 years. Following the services and luncheon, the burial will be at East Rondell Cemetery, rural Stratford, SD.

Elaine was born August 13, 1937 at the family farm near Stratford, SD to George Henry and Clara Lavinia (Thorson) Face. She graduated from Stratford High School in 1954 and went on to attend Presentation School of Nursing in Aberdeen, SD. She graduated from their nursing program with a RN Degree in 1958.

Elaine began her nursing career in Lisbon, ND. After living and working in Reno, NV for a short time, she returned to ND and began working at Dakota Hospital in Fargo. She retired from Dakota Hospital in 2000 after working the last 30 years of her nursing career as their House Supervisor. After retiring, she volunteered for several years at the front desk of Essentia Hospital.

Elaine was a kind, generous person and was rather laid back except when her beloved MN Twins baseball team lost! Along with loving the Twins, playing slot machines, winning at BINGO, she often enjoyed a latte from Caribou Coffee! Elaine enjoyed playing card games, Pac-Man, and hand-held slot gambling games with her “adopted” nieces and nephews. That was the beginning of many of those kids getting hooked on Pac-Man and hand-held games! She maintained her youthful, fun personality when attending children’s parties at Chuckie Cheese and Space Aliens. Elaine was always the first to share her bucket of coins!

Elaine is survived by her brother, Eugene (Jean) Face, Stratford, SD; nephew, Royce (Karla), their children, Joel, Sarah, and Lucy; nieces, Kelly, Kathy (Mark) Williams, their sons, Aaron and Jason (Rachel), their children, Jasper and Roxanne; Korrie (Vern) Prickett, their daughter, Anna (Kris) Kwak and their son, Kane.

When Elaine began her nursing career far from home, she began adding to her family wherever she went. In Fargo, she gained sisters of the heart, Ronda Thorsness and Jan Haaland. Their families became hers, their children her nieces and nephews and they added joy to her life. Elaine’s South Dakota family is forever thankful that she had people who loved her nearby throughout her time in Fargo, and especially as her health faltered. She brought the same gifts to all of her family: love, humor, kindness, and the ability to make each of us feel important and special.

She is also survived by lifelong friends, Ronda Thorsness, Gary & Jan Haaland, all of her “adopted” siblings, nieces and nephews of the Thorsness and Haaland families, along with many friends from Fargo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George & Clara & nephew Steven Michael Face.

A special thank you to the care provided to Elaine by the Essentia Hospital Doctors, nurses and all staff.

In lieu of flowers & memorials, donations can be made to Olivet Lutheran Church, 1330 University Dr S., Fargo, ND 58103 in memory of Elaine.

This is for you Elaine, GO TWINS!