Late one night after working through a day of zoom meetings dealing with COVID and the associated fiscal challenges at the state level, I settled down at the dining room table for a snack and to go over the latest edition of the Star Valley Independent. Sarah Hale, our editor, does a great job of putting it together each week, as most of the time I’m working on assignments and projects associated with public service responsibilities related to the state or our member-owned co-op.

I saw the obituary on Elaine Dana and thought to myself, “What a loss to this valley,” as I pondered the many businesses, church and valley activities she had been involved with over the years. That was only confirmed as I went over the details of her life.

I always like reading the obituaries, remembering our valley residents and, in some instances, learning things about their life, and their contributions to their fellowman.

This was the case with Elaine. While I didn’t know her well, I was aware of her incredible work ethic.

I recall a conversation with her one time about expanding her businesses from Thayne to Afton. Despite a few challenges from the community, she opened the new store and added to the strength of Afton’s main street, while remaining a viable contribution to the Thayne’s business district. I was impressed with that move and her drive to help both communities.

Let me take you to the summary of her many business adventures with husband Charlie as part of an obituary in the April 15th SVI.

“Elaine has always been a business woman. Her and Charlie opened up a service station in Thayne called Standard Service in 1959. In 1960 they took on the Massey Ferguson dealership. In 1963 they moved from the ranch to their house in Thayne. In 1978 they became a True Value Hardware Store and in 1984 they added V&S Variety to that. They built a new hardware store in 2000 and then sold it in 2002 because of their health. It is now Thayne True Value.”

How impressive: one business after another, adding to the strength of Star Valley.

I recall one year, my wife Kim and I committed ourselves to do all of our Christmas shopping in Star Valley, and we did most of it at Elaine’s hardware store on Thayne’s main street. I loved taking my kids to that store with all of it’s aisles loaded with goods.

In addition to all of those business contributions to the valley, she reached out, helping the youth and the adults associated with her faith.

“Elaine coached church basketball, volleyball and softball for 25 years. She started as a chorister in the primary and then became ward music director, serving for 52 years [and she] directed about 34-35 Christmas pageants.”

Elaine also served [in the] Young Women’s presidency and Relief Society Work Director.”

If that wasn’t enough, just look at these community contributions. “She belonged to a group of women called the Variety Club for 38-40 years. She was serving as club president in 1965 when they restored the Thayne Cemetery with the help of the Lions Club and the Bishopric. That was the project that meant the most to her. They raised money  to build the shelter in the Thayne Park, bought a piano for the church house, and bought a cast cutter for the hospital and many more community services.”

Does it get any better than that in a rural community?

And then, still more community service. “She was an EMT for 15 years. She started Community Awareness Resource Environment (CARE) in 1989 which put a drug awareness program in the high school.

“She served on the Thayne Planning and Zoning Committee for four years. Served on the Lincoln County Mental Health Board and the Lincoln County North Mental Health Board.

“She provided 13 high school students with scholarships. She provided countless people with Christmas’s that her family doesn’t even know about. She has sung at funerals and weddings and other functions.”

Elaine exemplifies my belief and practice that we can always do more with our lives than we believe we can. If we plan appropriately, we can always find time to give more and to help in many different ways, from business to community service.

Do we have any more Elaine Dana’s out there?