Eltrude Elliott Hall
Mrs. Eltrude Elliott Hall of Sublette, passed away on April 18, 2015 at the age of 95.
Eltrude was born in her parents’ house in Sublette on September 11, 1919, the third child of Ernest Henry Elliott and Myrtle McCoy Elliott.
Eltrude attended public schools in Sublette, graduating from Sublette High School in 1937. Her special interest throughout school was music. She started taking piano lessons when she was 8 years old. Later, while in high school, she started playing the marimba. She loved both instruments and continued playing them throughout her life.
After graduation, Eltrude attended Washburn University in Topeka for two years. She then transferred to KU for her junior and senior years, graduating in 1941 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. After graduation, Eltrude taught high school music at Clements, Kansas for one year.
On December 20, 1942, Eltrude married Edward Hall, her high school and college sweetheart, in Topeka, Kansas. He preceded her in death on June 18, 1987. After Edward’s Navy service was completed in 1946, the couple moved to Garden City. In 1952, Edward and Eltrude returned to Sublette and started farming.
Farming and agri-business were a central part of Eltrude’s life. She was co-owner and co-operator (with Edward) of Double E Farms. She was also a part-owner of McCoy Grain Company and Sublette Feeders, and served as the corporate Secretary of their parent company for many years.
Eltrude’s love of music was constant throughout her life. Beginning in high school and continuing in adulthood, Eltrude performed both accompaniment and solo music at the First United Methodist Church in Sublette. Recently, a special service was held in there to commemorate Eltrude’s musical gifts to the church, and to thank her for seventy-five years of loving service.
Eltrude was a great benefactor of the Sublette schools. She was a Life Member of the Sublette High School Alumni Association. She also supported the Sublette Public Schools Foundation with donations of both time and money. In 2001, Eltrude was honored by Sublette High School Alumni Association as a member of the first class of former students inducted into the Wall of Honor.
Eltrude’s energy and generosity was not just confined to Sublette. For 33 years, she served as the Memorials Chairman for the Haskell County chapter of the American Cancer Society. She also supported the Satanta Arts Council, and was a member of the Haskell Township Library Board, and Secretary of the Haskell County Historical Society.
Mindful of her education at Washburn and KU, Eltrude provided generous financial support to both of those schools. In recent years, Eltrude was a principal benefactor of the Sunflower Music Festival, which is held each year at Washburn. She was also a Life Member of the Kansas University Alumni Association and through the Kansas University Endowment Association, she established a scholarship in honor of Edward, which provides support for one athlete throughout his or her tenure at KU. In addition to Washburn and KU, Eltrude gave generously to the City of Sublette, and many secular and religious charitable organizations throughout the United States.
Other of Eltrude’s interests were reading (non-fiction); writing (keeping a daily Journal for over 60 years); antiques (she was a self-taught expert in early American pressed glass); and family history and genealogy..
Eltrude is survived by her children, Sterling Hall and wife Jacqueline and Geneen Love and husband Bryan; her grandchildren Melissa, Landon, Trenton, Chastin and Whitney; eight great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Marjorie Elliot; two nieces, Diane Blunt and husband Bill and Mary Gail Baker and husband Richard; three nephews, Dr. Mark Elliott and wife Nancy, Dennis Elliott and wife Julie, and Larry (Pete) Hall and wife Beverly. She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward, her parents, and two brothers, Merton and Dorsey Elliott.
May God grant Eltrude Eternal Rest and Lasting Peace.
Memorial service will be held at Sublette United Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 11:00 AM. A private family burial will take place. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Sublette on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 from Noon to 8:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Sublette Public Schools Foundation for the Ed and Eltrude Hall Memorial Scholarship or Hospice of the Prairie in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.
