Elverna Marie Herrick

Elverna Marie Jelken Herrick went to be with her Heavenly Father on March 29, 2024, at the age of 96 years. Elverna was born on May 17, 1927, the third child of four to John F. and Marie (Johnson) Jelken at her home near Macon, Nebraska. Elverna was baptized in Christian faith on May 29, 1927, and confirmed on May 11, 1941, at Zion Lutheran Church in Macon. Elverna’s faith was the cornerstone of her life, and she received great assurance through her Confirmation verse John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Growing up on the Macon prairie with her siblings, Frank, Louisa, and Irene shaped her into the strong, beautiful soul that she was. She attended District 67 south of Macon.  She graduated from Franklin High School in May 1944. She soon met her soulmate and the love of her life Lowell Herrick and was married on April 3, 1946, in the Lutheran Church, Athol, Kansas. They made their home near Naponee where they farmed and raised their family. To this union three children were born: Richard, Donna and Evelyn. Many memories were made on the farm. In 1968, they moved to Franklin, where she did seamstress work in her home, worked at Carey Cleaners, Sindt Clothing and Helen Schmidt’s Fabric Store.

Elverna was a member of the Naponee Congregational Church where she taught Sunday School. After moving to Franklin, she joined the First Congregational Church in Franklin where she was a member of Women’s Fellowship that was so important to her and where she spent many countless hours. She was a member of the Sunshine Club and served as a 4-H Leader for many years. She cherished all of the moments spent serving others and serving her Lord.  

Lowell and Elverna were gifted with the talents of gardening. Produce from their gardens was always a treat and there was never a weed to be seen. Elverna spent hours canning her produce and it was always special when we got to eat her yellow beans, her asparagus, or her melons. Her canned beef was simply amazing, as was anything that she cooked or baked. She spent many years entering her garden produce and flowers in the Franklin County Fair, where she also volunteered. 

Elverna was a talented seamstress and made so many outfits through the years. You could always count on her to patch the jeans or coveralls so that we could get a little bit more wear out of them. God gave her the talent of playing the piano by ear. She could listen to any song and play it. Listening to Grandma Great play was so special. 

Her greatest joys were children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Times spent with them were truly her greatest moments and ones that she cherished up until the time when Jesus called her home. 

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Richard (Marilyn), Franklin, daughters, Donna Herrick, Franklin, and Evelyn (Duane) Eubanks, Alvarado, Texas. Sister, Irene Lodge, Queen City, Texas, Sister-in-law, Pinki Herrick, Georgetown, Texas. Grandsons, Scott (Rhonda) Herrick, Franklin, Jon (Kelli) Herrick, Amherst, Monte (Mandy) White, Grandview, Texas. Great Grand Children, Leyton Herrick (Shelby Schmidt), Kristen Herrick, Hannah Herrick, Anna, Jeremiah and Jameson White and many nieces and nephews, relatives, and friends. 

Meeting her at the gates of Heaven were her dear husband, Lowell, her parents, John and Marie Jelken, brother Frank (Norma Jean), Sister Louisa (Earl), Brother-in-Laws, Donald Lodge, Ike Herrick, Sister-in-Laws, Pauly (Ernie) Marsh, and Cleo (Frank) McCulla.  

Visitation with family greeting family and friends will be held 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Hutchins Funeral Home, Wednesday, April 3^rd. funeral services will be held 11:00am Thursday, April 4, 2024 at Zion American Lutheran Church, Macon, Nebraska with The Reverend Marcia Dorn officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Franklin. Memorials may be made to the family’s choice to be designated.