Elna LaRee Banzhaf

Elna LaRee (Knappert) Banzhaf of Eustis passed away Sunday, April 12, 2020 at Plum Creek Care Center in Lexington at the age of 83. Elna was born in the farm home of her parents, Edward J. Knappert and Sylvia B. (Weber) Knappert on March 18, 1937. The farm home was located about six miles southwest of Hendley, Nebraska. Elna attended all eight years of school at Dist. #96 (Middle Rockton School) in Furnas County. She was baptized on May 2, 1937 at Zion Lutheran Church in Hendley, Nebraska. She was confirmed on May 28, 1950 in the same church. She attended and graduated from Beaver City High School with the class of 1954. She then attended summer school classes at Kearney State Teacher's College every summer from 1954 to 1959. She taught at her home school at Dist. #96 for the last two years it was open and then taught the lower grades at Orafino (Dist. #28) Frontier County from 1956 to 1960. She married Dwain Banzhaf of Eustis, Nebraska on July 30, 1960 at Zion Lutheran church in Hendley, Nebraska. They made their home in Eustis for their entire married life. She taught at Dist. #66 in Dawson County the first year after marriage and then taught one additional year at Orafino in 1964-1965, this time the upper grades. Teaching was her passion. She decided at a very young age that she wanted to be a teacher. To this union was born one daughter, Rhonda, and three sons, Gary, Galen and Ryan. She babysat for several children in the Eustis community when her children were small. She then had her own pre-school for six years. She then drove busses and vans for the Eustis School for twenty-three years and was a teachers aide for nine years, retiring from both positions in 2002. Her hobbies were crocheting, reading, raising flowers, camping at Rocky Mountain National Park, and photography. She enjoyed sharing photos with relatives and friends. She also enjoyed being in charge of the prayer chains for the Lutheran Church. She was also the person who sent cards for special events such as birthdays, anniversaries, get well and sympathy cards, etc. Elna was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Sylvia Knappert; sister, Verla Walter; brother-in-law, Harold Walter; brother, Dale Knappert; sister-in-law, LaVonne Knappert; and husband, Dwain Banzhaf. Survivors include her daughter, Rhonda Kinsey; sons, Gary (Sharol), Galen (Marsha), and Ryan (Tonya); grandsons, Tim (Crescinda), Matt (Gina) and Nick Kinsey, Cody (Stephanie) and Kyle (special friends Grace Grant and Evelyn Laird) Banzhaf, Sam and Alex Banzhaf, and Connor and Cameron Banzhaf; granddaughters, Brooke (Gordon) Thiessen, Destini Kinsey, and Jenna Banzhaf; great grandchildren, Rylie, Charley and Jackson Kinsey, Baylee Kinsey, Masiyha, Syn'Cere and Blessing Moore, and Annabelle and Claire Banzhaf. Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Memorials are suggested to the family in her name for later designation. Memorial Services will be held Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Eustis. Burial was at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska. Berryman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.