Elana Joy Nomeland

It is with a sense of brokenness and loss, yet with hope, we announce the home going of Elana Joy Nomeland.

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 Fall, S.D. 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 18th 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, Hosta’s 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.

The service commemorating the life of Elana 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.

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