Jennie Banaka

    Jennie Virginia (Elder) Banaka was born July 28, 1928, in Lamar, Nebraska, to Joseph A. Elder and Newella A. (Corning) Elder. She died and entered into eternal life Sept. 24, 2018, at Regent Park Nursing Home in Holyoke.
    Jennie was born in Lamar, the youngest of eight children. Her parents then moved the family to Palisade, Nebraska, for a short time for Joseph’s work. They moved back to the Lamar area, where Jennie attended school through the eighth grade and received her diploma from District 42, Chase County, Nebraska, in 1942.
    In 1946, Jennie was married to Harold W. Banaka in St. Francis, Kansas, and to this union three daughters were born. Harold and Jennie farmed and ranched in northeast Yuma County. They raised corn, wheat and feed. They also had a small herd of cows. They raised their daughters here and enjoyed it when the grandkids came along and would visit or stay with them.
    Jennie was known for her gardening, crocheting and of course her cooking. Many of her grandkids learned how to do these things from her and how to preserve the food from the garden in case of a bad winter. She was a great cook and loved to have the grandkids help in the kitchen. They also enjoyed getting together with neighbors and playing cards, especially Pitch.
    Jennie and Harold sold the farm to their granddaughter and grandson-in-law in 2001 and moved into Holyoke. They were married for a glorious 64 years before Harold passed in October of 2010. The love they shared for so many years was a blessing. Jennie moved to Regent Park Nursing Home in July of 2016 and lived there until her passing. She will be missed by all her family.
    She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold; brothers, Orville Elder (infancy), George Elder, Keith Elder, and twins Rex and Lex Elder; and sisters, Wilma Schmidt and Agnes Mather.
    She is survived by her daughters, Virginia Rasmussen and husband Wayne of Wray, Nancy Hartman and husband Gary of Henderson, Nevada, and Connie Murdie and husband Richard of Gunnison; one grandson and six granddaughters; six great-grandsons and six great-granddaughters; and one great-great-granddaughter.
    The funeral service was held Sept. 29 at Baucke Funeral Chapel, officiated by Paul Brunner of First United Methodist Church in Holyoke. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.
    Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.