Elayne LaFave

Elayne LaFave, 94, passed away on October 7, 2026 at Edgewood Manor in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Elayne LaFave was born on November 27, 1931, daughter of Ezra and Alta (Spear) Griese. She grew up on the family farm in Reynolds, ND. She attended the area country school through eighth grade and graduated from Hatton High School in 1949. Elayne married Russell LaFave on December 12, 1952. Together, they made their home in East Grand Forks, where they lived together until Russell passed away in 1995. They had one daughter. She worked as a cashier for National Foods in East Grand Forks for over 30 years until it closed. She continued to work part-time at businesses in East Grand Forks until she retired from A&L Potato Company in 2001. After retirement, Elayne enjoyed many hobbies and she loved spending time with family, most of all playing cards with her grandkids and great-grandkids. Elayne is preceded in death by her husband, Russell LaFave; parents, Ezra and Alta Griese; and five brothers. She is survived by her daughter, Lynn (Don) Grabinski; granddaughters, Taunja (Kurt) Olson and Tara (Matt Johnson) Grabinski; great-granddaughters, Karlee Olson, Kalynn (Shawn) Klabo; great-grandson, Lincoln; and sisters, Mary (Mur) Vervalen, Bonnie Hintz, and Carolyn (David) Roe.