Elaine Niehoff

Elaine M. Niehoff, age 77, of Melrose, died peacefully on Friday, September 9, 2011 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m. Friday, September 16 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Kevin Niehoff, O.P. officiating and Rev. Marvin Enneking and Rev. James Spahn, O.P. concelebrating. Inurnment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 to 12 p.m. Friday at the church in Melrose. Christian Mothers and Daughters of Isabella will pray a rosary at 11:45 a.m.

Elaine Margaret Beste was born February 9, 1934 in Melrose to John and Elizabeth (Trossen) Beste. On September 14, 1957 she married Marvin Niehoff at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. She attended St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Melrose High School in 1952. She attended the St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1955. Elaine worked as an RN for 35 years at the Melrose Area Hospital and retired in 1991. She enjoyed birds and traveling.

Elaine was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, and the Daughters of Isabella Joan of Arc Circle of Melrose. She was a past member of the Melrose School Board and City Council.

Survivors include her children, Fr. Kevin Niehoff, O.P. of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tim (Jan) Niehoff of Menomonie, Wisconsin, James Niehoff of Rosemount, and Daniel Niehoff of Clearwater; grandchildren, Andrew and Jennifer Niehoff; great-grandchildren, Tabitha and Lillyann Hyde; step-granddaughter, Angela Hyde; sisters, Donna (Bob) Sessa of Clovis, California, and Jovita Baker of Minneapolis; and sister-in-law, Helen Beste of Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marvin Niehoff on March 19, 2003; and brother, Dr. Gerald Beste.

Urn bearer will be Jennifer Niehoff and scripture bearer will be Andrew Niehoff. Honorary bearers will be Lillian "Pudge" Kettler, Del Gieske, Jone Meyer, Carol Ricklick, Margaret "Marge" Schaefer, Marcy Seiferman, Helen Jacobs, Della Thelen, Nettie Goihl, Marlene Reller, Peggy Stokman, Rosie Wiechman, Rosemary "Rosie" Osendorf, Frances Monroe, Doreen Frericks, Joann Tieman, Linda Wenker, Geraldine "Gerry" Meyer, Donna Kociemba, Audrey Toenies, Roseanne Inderrieden, and Mary Wenning.