Elaine Vaterlaus Woodward

Our sweet mother, Elaine Vaterlaus Woodward, 94, passed away peacefully in her home of natural causes on April 10, 2026. Elaine was born March 7, 1932 at home in Fish Haven, Idaho to John Christoff and Lisle Findlay Vaterlaus, the third of six children. The family purchased a farm and moved to Riverdale, Idaho, where she spent her childhood and youth. She always felt fortunate to have grown up in a loving and faithful family where they worked and prayed together.

She attended a two-room school in Riverdale through the 8th grade and graduated from Preston High School in 1950. Near the end of high school, she received a scholarship to attend Ricks College yet chose employment instead, working as Chief Deputy Clerk for the Franklin County District Court, living in Preston with roommates during the week.

She married Darrell D Woodward in the Logan Temple on January 4, 1954, and together they raised their five children. She and Darrell lived in Germany, Utah, Idaho, California and eventually settled in Holladay Utah in 1972. Everywhere she lived, she created a loving happy home for her family where her door was open for everyone. Following her divorce, Elaine worked for the University of Utah Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, working with and mentoring many college students for 17 years.

Our mom was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints giving life-long service in many callings, including Relief Society President in all three states she lived and serving in a calling well into her 80’s. She was a valiant and loving disciple of Jesus Christ and an example of charity to all who knew her. She relied on her faith in Jesus Christ during both good and challenging times. She was calm, non-judgmental, steady, funny, humble and a peacemaker. Among her many talents, she was a gifted seamstress making countless clothes, costumes, and projects for her children and grandchildren and teaching others this skill. She was a precise and careful quilter creating many beautiful, pieced quilts. She found joy in sewing, reading, playing games, lunches with friends, attending the temple, and serving others. She was fiercely independent and was grateful to live in her home until her passing. Most of all, she cherished being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved her family who all loved spending time in her home and her greatest joy was gathering with them and establishing traditions and making memories together.

Elaine is preceded in death by her parents, siblings Carl and his wife Phyllis, MarJean Geisler and her husband Don, and brother Alan Vaterlaus. She is survived by her children Maren Erickson (Andrew), Kevin (Debbie), James (Velva), Sue Anderson (Daniel), Wendy Kiefer (Greg), as well as 24 beloved grandchildren, and 37 cherished great grandchildren (with two coming later this year), who affectionately named her Grandma Great. She is also survived by her brother Rodney (Launa), sister Valene Winward (Dennis), sisters-in-law Sheryl Vaterlaus, LuDean Atwood, and Ruby Woodward and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 1:00 pm at the Holladay LDS 2nd Ward – 2065 East 4675 South Holladay, Utah. There will be a viewing at that same location prior to the service from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30. p.m.  Interment will be at the Holladay Memorial Cemetery immediately following the funeral.