Randall, Elnora J. (Marshall) 1867-1946

RANDALL, MARSHALL, FINCHER, ALDERSON, COONFARE, DEBES, EVERS, HUBBARD, WENZEL, HUGHES, DUTTON, ELKINS, SCHMIDT

Posted By: Charlene Barnhart (deceased)
Date: 1/15/2006 at 03:32:25

Hold Last Rites for Mrs. Elnora Randall on Sunday
Funeral services for Mrs. Elnora Randall, 79, who passed away at her home northeast of Strawberry Point, Thursday, January 30, were held at the residence Sunday afternoon, Feb 2, with Rev. R. Park Anderson officiating. Those who bore the casket were Miles Alderson, Clare Coonfare, Gregor Debes, Otto Evers, Chas Hubbard and Ray Hughes. Dr. R.W. Dutton was the soloist. Interment was in the Ross Cemetery
Rev. Anderson read the following obituary at the funeral.
Elnora Jane Randall was born on a farm about two miles west of this residence on March 16, 1867, the daughter of a pioneer schoolteacher, Aaron B. Marshall and his wife Sarah Jane Fincher. The family was of Pennsylvania Dutch origin and migrated to Iowa from Pennsylvania in the sixties. She was a member of a family of eight, all of whom have preceded her in death. The family later moved to Osborne, Iowa, where Elnora grew to womanhood, receiving her education in the local schools. Because of her love for home and community, an outstanding characteristic of her, she let pass on opportunity to complete her education in high schools of learning in Wisconsin.
Sometime later the family returned to this valley and purchased the farm now owned by Julius Wenzel. Here she met the neighbor boy who was to become her husband and on July 11, 1883 she was united in marriage with George Alva Randall at Elkader, Iowa
This young farmer had built a new home for his bride at this very location, and for the past 64 years that she lived here, seldom has she stayed away from this home, even for a few days.
Eight children came to bless this happy union: Belva, now Mrs. Joe Elkins of Manchester, Floyd, who passed away in 1909, Aaron of Holy Cross, Emmett of Aurora, Milo passed away at the age of 21 months in 1894; Pansy, now Mrs. Ray Schmidt of Strawberry Point, and Myrtle and Marshall at home.
In the year 1912, a haying accident claimed the life of the beloved husband and father, leaving to the mother the entire responsibility of caring for the home and family, the youngest member then only three years old.