Elana Joy Nomeland

The service commemorating the life of Elana Nomeland, 76, of Minneota, will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Bethel Fellowship Church in Minneota. Visitation will be held on Monday, June 8, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a service of praise and commemoration at 7:00 p.m. at Bethel Fellowship Church. Visitation will continue on Tuesday from 9:30 am. – 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will take place at the Wergeland Cemetery in Porter, MN.

Elana Joy Nomeland, age 76, of Minneota, MN, went home to be with Christ on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at North Central Heart Hospital, in Sioux Falls, SD, due to sudden heart failure.

Elana was born in Sibley, Iowa, on December 1, 1949, the daughter of the late James and Frances VanDrunen.

Elana worked at several dental clinics before marriage. Her latest employment was with the Minneota Library, where she worked for 25 plus years as assistant librarian. She loved meeting the patrons and getting to know them. She was loved by many of them. She retired in 2023.

Elana married Tom Nomeland on August 31, 1974, and enjoyed nearly 52 years of love and life together. Another great event in her life was the arrival of her daughter and only child Rebekah on May 18, 1988.

Elana’s greatest pleasures were being with her husband Tom and her wonderful daughter Rebekah. Right along with this was following Jesus, attending Bethel Fellowship Church and reading good Christian books, of which she read hundreds. In the last few years, she loved reading sermons by great men of the bible.

She often wrote on scraps of papers different passages and thoughts she gleaned from these books and her quiet time with the Lord.

She was a great friend to many and loved visiting with them. She always had an open home, welcoming in and accommodating many over the years.

She also loved taking care of her garden of flowers, Hostas and ferns, always working with them as she was able. She had a great eye for design.

Her passing has made a great void in her husband’s and daughter’s life, as well as those who knew her well.

She is preceded in death by her parents and one sister. She is survived by her husband Tom of Minneota, daughter Rebekah of Duluth, and brother Paul (Diane) VanDrunen of Tyler.

In lieu of flowers a memorial gift will be made in Elana's name to Bethany Orphange in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Please make checks payable to Bethel Fellowship Church.