ELAINE WOOD
Elaine Martha Wood, 87, formerly of Lake Andes, passed away peacefully at her home in Springtown, Texas December 14, 2023. Elaine was born December 20, 1935 in Lake Andes to Charles Stedronsky Jr. and Josephine (Dolejsi) Stedronsky. She was the youngest of eight children and the last to pass of her siblings.
After graduating from Lake Andes High School in 1953, Elaine worked at the Lake Andes Community Bank for several years before moving to Chicago and working in reservations at United Airlines. All the while staying in touch with her boyfriend, Allan Deane Wood who was serving five years in the United States Navy where he specialized in deep sea diving. After her mother’s passing, Elaine moved back to Lake Andes and worked at the REA-rural electrification administration. While in the service, Allan sent Elaine a beautiful set of china from Japan, which is still among her possessions. He also mailed her an engagement ring which she thought was fake and from a bubblegum machine.
Allan and Elaine wed August 30, 1959 at a small ceremony in Lake Andes. Following the wedding, Elaine bought them a small trailer with her savings and supported Allan in his studies at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. Their first child Susan Lucille Wood was born November 5, 1960. In 1961 while Allan was taking finals, pregnant Elaine and Susan went to Sedalia, MO to visit Elaine’s sister Alice and it was during this trip that their daughter Janice Kay Wood was born December 19, 1961. They all lived in the trailer until Allan graduated the University of South Dakota in 1963 with a degree in geology. They then moved to Corvallis, Oregon where Allan attended graduate school at Oregon State University, eventually obtaining a masters degree in geology. It was here in Corvallis that their third and last child was born, Paul Charles Wood joined the family July 11, 1964.
After graduating, the family moved to Myrtle Creek OR where Allan began a long career with Hannah Mining. Elaine was a stayat- home mother and very involved with her children. She taught that you had to work for what you wanted, having her children pull weeds at ten weeds for one penny. That’s right: 100 weeds for a dime.
The family then moved to Sparks, NV, outside of Reno, where stays in Idaho—a mining camp—and California originated. In 1971 there was a big move to Johannesburg, South Africa where Allan was prospecting for gold. They remained in the very interesting and different country for approximately three years. Upon returning stateside, Allan’s job took them to Wenatchee, WA, apple capital of the world. After only one year in Wenatchee, Allan accepted a new position with General Crude Oil that moved them to Houston, TX in 1975. Throughout Allan’s career the family lived many places and travelled to see much of the world. Through all the moving, Elaine was supportive and optimistic. They first lived in Spring, TX home of the Goodyear Blimp where Susan graduated high school. There were two years spent in Brewer, ME where Paul flourished into the outdoorsman and hunter he is still, and Janice graduated high school. They then moved to Kingwood, TX and purchased a beautiful home right on the Forest Cove golf course. Elaine loved this home and the yard was transformed into an absolute thing of beauty through her hard work and loving care. It was here, that she was an extra in the film Tin Cup with Kevin Costner. Paul graduated high school in Kingswood and then went on to serve in the US Marine Corps. Allan and Elaine eventually sold the large home and moved to Springtown, TX to help Susan and her husband with their business.
Springtown is a lovely community and Elaine made many friends, was an avid bowler, Keno player, and continuing gardener. She loved an occasional trip to the casino. She very much enjoyed a good card game and especially playing the game Sequence. You could never call her between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m. because she was watching Wheel of Fortune and it was not to be disturbed!
Grandchild Scott Allan Wood joined the family July 3, 1992 to Paul and Nancy and Allison Claire Humphrey was born February 26, 1995 to Janice and Chris. Both Allen and Elaine adored spending time with their grandchildren. Allan passed away May 18, 2005 and Elaine kept going, being her lovely, generous, and thoughtful self.
She is survived by her daughters Susan Brown and Janice (Chris) Humphrey; her son Paul (Nancy) Wood; grandchildren: Scott (Katie) Wood and Allison Humphrey; great grandsons: Owen and Bryce Wood. She also has many nieces and nephews who thought the world of her, including her brother Wayne’s daughters: Teri, Jo and April and their families; her sister Alice’s children: David, Beverly and Linda and their families; her brother Russell’s daughter Cheryl and her family and son Bruce and his family; and her brother Robert’s son Mark and his family.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband Allan Deane Wood; her parents Charles Stedronsky Jr. and Josephine Stedronsky; her brothers: John Stedronsky, Raymond Stedronsky, Russell Stedronsky, Robert Stedronsky and Wayne Stedronsky; her sisters: Alice Morris and Josephine Gerken; and her niece Lynn Sue Matuska.
A memorial service was held in Springtown, TX at the First United Methodist Church January 12, 2024, and a graveside service in Lake Andes in the spring of 2024.