Elaine L. Richardson

Elaine L. Richardson, 91, of Sioux City, passed away on Oct. 8, 2016, after a brief stay at Holy Spirit Retirement Home.
Services will be 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael Catholic Church, in Sioux City, with the Rev. Donald Ries officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. A private family rosary will be said at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Visitation with the family will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Elaine was born on Jan. 13, 1925, in Estherville, Iowa, the first born of John and Eda (Rasmussen) Clemenson. The oldest of six daughters, she was raised in Graettinger, Iowa, and was educated in the local schools. After graduating from high school in 1942, she attended business college in Mankato, Minn. Elaine's first business position was at Graettinger State Bank. In 1946, she moved to Sioux City to work in the business office of the S.S. Kresge Co.
On Dec. 31, 1947, she married Ivan F. Richardson, also from the Graettinger area, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sioux City. Upon starting a family, like so many women of her generation, she became a full time homemaker. Her husband, Ivan, was a barber in Sioux City, and together they operated Richardson Barbers. They also owned and operated Richardson Properties, a real estate property company which provided many rental homes for Siouxland families. Along with raising her family, Elaine performed the business accounting for their successful businesses.
Family was the joy of Elaine's life. Her parents instilled in all their children the principles of kindness, generosity, faith, hard work, and love for others. Elaine lived by these principles, being a wonderful role model for her children and grandchildren. As a parent, she placed a premium on education, which fostered the goal of each of her children to earn a college degree. She said the greatest accomplishment of her life was raising her family. And, the greatest gift for her family was having Elaine as their mother and grandmother.
Music, reading, and playing bridge with friends were some of her passions. She was also an avid sports fan, she especially enjoyed cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with family, earlier in life never missing one of the children's school or sporting events, and later traveling with Ivan visiting children and grandchildren. She was a devout Christian woman. The family were active members of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. More recently, she had been a member of St. Michael Catholic Church.
Elaine was the matriarch of the Richardson family. She had a wonderful quality which made every family member feel special. She will live in their hearts forever.
She is survived by her four children, Constance (MacDonald) Smith of Sioux City, Dr. John (Shelley) Richardson of Winneconne, Wis., Ann (Honorable John) Colborn of Lincoln, Neb., and Mary (Jon) Tester of Pawleys Island, S.C.; 13 grandchildren, Jay (Alissa) Smith, Adam Smith, John (Kari) Richardson, Andrea (Erik) Uppling, Nicholas Richardson, Ryan (Karen) Schaefer, Andrea Schaefer, Lindsay (Pat) Crawford, Jennifer (James) Pate, Jonathan (Angela) Tester, Benjamen Tester, Daniel Tester, and Jacob Tester; five sisters, Lenor Jensen of Graettinger, Delores (Robert) Barringer of Spencer, Iowa, Marlys Daniels of Des Moines, Judy (Jack) Garrelts of Ayrshire, Iowa, and Kathy (Jay) Reinders of Winnebago, Minn.; 14 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; and loving husband of 66 years, Ivan.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Christine Danner and her staff, the staff of Northpark Senior Living, and Elaine's many caregivers, especially Veronica Scott.
Memorials may be made to Holy Spirit Retirement Home Employee Fund, Queen of Peace, or Hospice of Siouxland.