Elaine Ione Friedrich

Elaine Ione Friedrich of Pine Island, formerly of Zumbrota, passed away on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, in Pine Island. Elaine was born on November 29, 1929, in Millville, MN to Roy and Mildred (Spring) Crary. She grew up in the Rochester and Plainview area, where she attended country school. On May 17, 1945, she married Alton Holst Friedrich. They lived in Red Wing until moving to Zumbrota in 1948. Elaine worked as a cook at the Colonial in Rochester. She also worked at the Zumbrota Bakery for 29 years, was a cook at the Zumbrota School, and worked at Main Street Pharmacy. Elaine was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, the Ladies Aid, the Quilting Group, and sang in the church choir. She volunteered at the Towers and Zumbrota Health Services. Elaine enjoyed knitting, playing cards, embroidery, playing bingo, and taking day bus trips.

Elaine is survived by her son, Orlin (Nancy) Friedrich of Goodhue; daughter, Cheryl (Daniel) Helder of Stewartville; grandchildren, Megan (Matthew) Daigle of Lino Lakes, Mari (Nicholas) Geiger of Cannon Falls, Mark (Cam) Friedrich of Elko, Bridget (Jared) Annear of Ankeny, IA, and Trevor (Jessi) Helder of Stewartville; great-grandchildren, Sophia Daigle, Madison Daigle, George Daigle, Matthew Knox, Kathryn Friedrich, Anne-Marie Annear, Juliet Annear, Ayden Helder, Peyton Helder, and Max Helder; and sisters, Myra Richardson of Eau Claire, WI and Shila Stahl of Plainview.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Mildred (Spring) Crary; her husband, Alton Friedrich; her son, Eldon Friedrich; her grandson, Matthew Friedrich; her great-grandson, Tayven Matthew Geiger; her brother, Arnold (Eleanor) Crary; and her sisters, Ione Briedel and Sharon (Ernie) Wood.

A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Larson Chapel in Zumbrota. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be held at the Zumbrota Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Tayven Geiger Memorial Fund (Castle Rock Bank, 4765 292nd Street East, P.O. Box 98, Randolph, MN 55065) or Christ Lutheran Church of Zumbrota.