Elva Hughes

ELVA GLADYS “SUZ” SNELSON HUGHES, 90, of Webster, Wisconsin, died on January 14, 2010, in Apache Junction – Mesa, Arizona, where she had been vacationing. She had recently enjoyed an extensive celebration of her 90th birthday and was visiting family and friends in the California and Arizona area. Elva was born January 5, 1920, in Pine County Bruno, Minnesota, to Joseph Leonard Snelson and Reecie Belle Reed Snelson. Elva married Myron “Mike” Hughes at her family home in Cloverton, MN, on February 22, 1942, and they built their first home in the Town of Dairyland, WI. In Elva’s early childhood, her family moved from Bruno to Minneapolis for a few short years where Elva started early kindergarten. The family returned again to Pine County, moving to Cloverton, Minnesota. Elva graduated from the Cloverton High School, where she was valedictorian of her class. During her youth she was involved in several community and civic groups. As a teenage girl, she made contact with the “Bean Factory” and arranged for employment for many of the local families as Bean Farmers, bringing some badly needed revenue into the community. Shortly after their marriage, Elva and Myron moved to Renton, Washington. After having their first child, Patsy, they returned to Dairyland where they lived for many years, raising their family and later running their business, Hughes Excavating. In later years, they also lived in Marine on the St Croix, Minnesota, and then retired to the Town of Jackson, Webster, Wisconsin. Elva had many interests and was very active right up to her death. Over the years, some of the activities she was involved included: Gardening, Bird-watching, Bowling, Red Hats, Jackson Fire Second Alarm, Dairyland Home Makers, Dairyland Parent Teacher Organization, Dancing, Sewing, Crocheting, Reading, Traveling, Gambling and Card-playing, painting and craft-work, and reading. She was a constant seeker of knowledge. Elva was also always trying to feed somebody. Along with raising their own children, Elva and Myron had a hand in nurturing and caring for many others, including some of their brothers, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. Over the years, Elva furthered her education, receiving a degree in secretarial science, and she did extensive study in accounting and other areas. Along with Elva’s work in the family excavating business and earlier on the family farm, she had also been employed in many different positions including secretarial and accounting work, as a tax consultant, a house-raising assistant, a cook, a care-giver, and as a distributor for a nutritional company. Elva is survived by her children Patsy Pope (Arlan) of Webster, WI, Fern Gomulak (Michael) of Superior, WI Nancy Peterson (Micheal) of Scandia, MN, and Sharon Hughes (Special Friend Jeff Hanson) of Webster, WI. Elva’s family included nine grandchildren: Debbie Dean, Dana Moser, Arnie Pope, Sonya Blair, Ed Gomulak, Teresa Ellis, Monica Schick, Roger Peterson, and Michelle Shaffer; 31 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. She is also survived by her brothers Jesse Snelson (Janet) of Spooner, WI, and Charles Snelson of Columbia Heights, MN, Inlaws Ella Hills, Ross Hughes, Harland Hughes (Betty), and Mavis Hughes of Washington, Betty Moss of California, William “Billy” Hughes and Bruce Hughes (Georgene) of Wisconsin, as well as many nieces, nephews, relations and friends. Elva was preceded in death by her husband in December 1996, by her parents, her brothers James Snelson, Gerald Snelson, and Joseph Snelson, and her sisters, Evelyn Christine (Teenie) Carlson, and Elma Kendal Kirks, as well as one great-grandson, A.J. Pope. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 23, 2010 at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Ward officiating. Music will be provided by Annette Arnold and Web & Lori Macomber. Interment will follow at River Hill Cemetery in Dairyland. Pallbearers will be Harold Kendall, Fred Snelson, Joseph Snelson, Michael Snelson, Roger Snelson, and Robert Wells, with Honorary Pallbearers Leonard Snelson and Dale Hughes. A luncheon following the service will be provided by the ladies from the Dairyland Homemakers at the Northland Community Center. Elva was one of a kind who lived her life to the full, helping and contributing wherever she believed there to be a need. She will be sorely missed by family and friends.