Elaine Hawkins

Elaine Hawkins, age 86 of Osakis passed away on Saturday, May 19 at the West View Apartments in Osakis, MN.
Elaine Lola Cooper was born on July 11, 1920 in Carlos Township, Douglas Co., MN to Charles & Della (Yohnke) Cooper. In November of 1937, Elaine married Maynard Ahlbrecht in Washington. They moved to Iowa when Maynard found work in the coal mines in southeast Iowa. In 1946 they returned to Osakis Township, living and working near Nelson, MN. Elaine became a member of the Fahlun Lutheran Church and belonged to the ladies aide. When they retired in 1975, Elaine and Maynard enjoyed being able to travel, especially when they could make visits back to their first home in Washington. Maynard passed away in 1983. Elaine married Don Hawkins in 1984 and they lived in Osakis. Elaine and Don belonged to the Osakis Senior Citizens and Elaine always enjoyed her participation in the club.
Elaine always had a beautiful flower and vegetable garden each summer and spent many hours canning and cooking. Her family will always remember her wonderful home-cooked fried chicken. She also liked making (and eating) dill pickles and yearly batches of Rhubarb wine. Elaine kept busy during the winter months crocheting afghans and doilies to give as gifts. She liked to play bingo and was also an avid Twins fan. Elaine was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister who will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Maynard Ahlbrecht,a son, Richard 'Dick' Ahlbrecht, a sister, Arlowene Ahlbrecht and two brothers, Glenn and Jerry Cooper.
Surviving family include her husband, Don Hawkins of Osakis; her children, Larry (Judy) Ahlbrecht of Nelson and David (Karen) Ahlbrecht of Mountain Lake, MN; 6 grandchildren; a brother, Wayne (Judy) Cooper of Waterford, WI.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 2:00 pm at the Fahlun Lutheran Church in rural Nelson with Rev. Joan Wittrock officiating. Organist was Audrey Aga. Interment was at the church cemetery with the Osakis Senior Citizens and the staff of West View Assisted Living Apartments in Osakis serving as honorary pallbearers. Active bearers were Jerry, Chris, Chad, Rudy, Aaron and Gina Ahlbrecht.
Arrangements were handled by the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis, MN.