Elaine Marie (Friedrich) Waples was born to Henry and Marie Friedrich on July 20, 1929 at the Brookings Hospital.  She died on January 24, 2020 at the Brookings Hospital after a brief illness.

Elaine grew up near Aurora where she attended grade school in Aurora and graduated from Brookings High School in 1947.  She developed a love of music and was the church organist at First English Lutheran Church from the age of 11, completing more than 75 years of service.  She was also in the high school marching band and other musical performance groups where she mastered the xylophone and marimba.  On June 2, 1950, Elaine married James Waples.  In 1951, Elaine went to work for the City of Aurora, where she was the Town Clerk and City Finance Officer for 45 years, retiring in 1996.   Jim and Elaine raised their family in Aurora and enjoyed the fellowship of their church, as well as gardening, camping, birdwatching and fishing together.

Jim died in 2012 but Elaine remained in Aurora, surrounded by her church family, her friends and her community.  She remained active in her church (organist, Ladies Aid organization, secretary/treasurer and Sunday School teacher & superintendant) and mastered email to be able to communicate with her children and grandchildren.  She played the piano at area retirement centers for many years, sharing her love of music.  Her vegetable garden remained vibrant but her first love was flowers that she could enjoy from her kitchen window.

Survivors include three children: Linda (Joel) Zimbelman of Chico CA, Rick (Lenise)Waples of Omaha NE, and Kathy (Mark) Walker of Olathe, KS; four grandchildren: Lexie (Rhys) McCaig, Greg (Kelly) Waples, Lauren (Brandon) Wood and Tom (Krista) Waples and five great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Harry, her sister Marjorie and her husband Jim.

Funeral services will be 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at First English Lutheran Church in Aurora with burial at First Lutheran Cemetery in Brookings.  Visitations will 4-6 P.M. on Monday, January 27 ^th at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings with a prayer service to follow at 6:00 P.M.