Obituary of Elaine Mollie (Peterson) Coombs

Elaine Mollie (Peterson) Coombs, born on April 17, 1923, in Carlton MN, passed away on March 24, 2020, in Hermantown MN at the age of 96 years, eleven months. Elaine grew up on a farm in rural Carlton, was the proud valedictorian of Carlton High School, class of 1942, and went on to attend the Duluth Teachers College. Elaine married Morris Thomas Coombs on July 19, 1969, in Hennepin County, married for 23 years until his death in 1993, she frequently said that marrying Tom was the best decision she ever made. Elaine spent most of her adult life in the Minneapolis area, living in St. Anthony and Moundsview, until moving to Hermantown Minnesota for the last years of her life. Although she had no children of her own, Elaine was a loving caretaker of countless people over her lifetime, including many family members and friends, delivering Meals-on-Wheels, and bringing friends to church and appointments well into her 90s. She was an active member of her Faith United Methodist Church family for over 40 years and an avid Vikings fan.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents Carl Arthur Peterson and Mary Louise (Hebert) Peterson, her husband (Morris) Thomas Coombs, her siblings Isabelle ‘Bunny’ (Holger) Peterson, Geraldine ‘Gerry’ (James) Wolf, and Dale Peterson, and her nieces Gail Boedigheimer, Bonnie Mattson, and Nancy Kraemer.

Elaine is survived by her sister-in-law Jeanne Peterson and many beloved nieces and nephews: Ron (Bette) Peterson, Wendy (Richard) Yrjanson, Amy (Robert) Mondlock, Katie (Sean) Rice, Ross Peterson, her caregiver/great niece Kathleen (Micheal) Wilson and 24 great and great-greats!

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later time when family and friends can gather. The family requests any remembrances be sent to Elaine’s favorite charities; the Ronald McDonald House or the American Cancer Society.