Elaine Bapp

Elaine Joan (Aden) Bapp, age 95, Rosholt, passed away peacefully on November 23, 2024, in Wilmot, South Dakota.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 3, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethania Lutheran Church in Rosholt.

Burial will be in the Bethania Lutheran Cemetery, Rosholt.

Elaine was born on July 22nd, 1929, to Eitel Jacob Aden and Lisa Louise (Howen) Aden on the family farm near Milbank, South Dakota. This was a time during the Great Depression in which she and the family endured many hardships and adventures including droughts, dust storms, and roving bands of gypsies.

In 1936, Elaine and her family moved from the family farm to Rosholt, South Dakota where she started school in the 2nd grade. When World War II began, the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where her father made Waco gliders for the U.S. Army Airborne forces. When the War ended, the family returned to Rosholt, and in 1947, Elaine proudly graduated with honors from Rosholt High School.

While in high school, Elaine met the love of her life Stanley Eldon Bapp.  They were joined in marriage on May 29th, 1949, at Bethania Lutheran Church.  Stan and Elaine were life-long members of the church, they served on several different committees and were involved with many organizations. Stan and Elaine began their journey together by starting a family farm north of Rosholt.  Elaine taught school in a one-room schoolhouse until the birth of her children David, Donald, Eileen and Steven.

Throughout her life, Elaine was involved in many pursuits including census taker, election poll worker, teaching Sunday School and adult Christian education.  She took great pride in teaching through rural home extension clubs. Elaine also worked as a baker, cook, dietary aid, and administrative bookkeeper at the Rosholt Nursing Home. She and Stan loved playing cards with their large circle of friends and traveling around the world together.  They also loved antiques and collectables, going to many auctions around the countryside.  Elaine continued this passion by overseeing six boutique antique shops in the Minneapolis metro area.

She is preceded in death by her husband Stanley, her son David, and her brother Duane.

She is survived by her sister Lorraine; her daughter Eileen and her husband Pram; her son Donald and his wife Sharon; her son Steven and his wife Karen. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.