Elaine Woods

Elaine Frieda Woods, age 85 of Arlington, Mn, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 20th at the Oak Terrace Assisted Living Facility in North Mankato, Mn.   Elaine chose to begin hospice on December 18th after a long struggle with COPD and heart failure.  Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 24th at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Green Isle with visitation one hour prior to the service.  Rev. Eric Rapp will officiate.  Interment will be in St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Green Isle immediately following the service.

Elaine was born on August 6th, 1938, in West Union at home to Christian and Frieda Pautsch. She attended a Lutheran school in Belle Plaine. Her family moved from West Union to a farm in Green Isle.  She married Daryl James Woods on April 25th, 1964.  She lived her life in the Arlington and the Green Isle area.  She sold her home in Arlington, in April of 2022 and moved to an apartment in North Mankato to be closer to family.

She worked as a cook and waitress for a number of years at various businesses in Arlington and Green Isle and sold Avon- products.   For a time, she also commuted to Eden Prairie and worked at GE Capital Fleets.   Following retirement from that position, she went back to cooking at a restaurant in Green Isle.

Elaine loved to make quilts, embroider and she was a whiz at crossword puzzles.   She gardened and loved plants.  She loved to help at the Church when she was able, and was a member of LWML.  She was an avid fan of the Vikings, Timberwolves and the Twins.  500 and Sheep head were her favorite card games!

Elaine is survived by her 2 children LaValle (Leon) Bembenek, Steven (Michelle) Woods, 4 grandchildren, Jamie Malwitz, Brandon Bembenek, Kelli (Dan) Ollhoff and Megan Woods, 6 great grandchildren, Braylon, Londyn, Charlotte Malwitz, Olivine Luciana Bembenek Fitzsimmons, Callan and Avery Ollhoff. Brother Maynard (Gail) Pautsch, and sister Darlene Tanke.

She was preceded in death by her husband Daryl Woods, brother Orville Pautsch, sister Eunice Paul, Sister in law Klara Pautsch, brother in law Ken Paul.