Elinor Erickson
Elinor Erickson, a longtime resident of Reno, peacefully passed away on 9-30-22. She was born in Gardnerville to John A. Jensen, Jr. and Minnie Springmeyer Jensen; and had 3 siblings who predeceased her: Margaret Williams (Sparks); Jack Jensen (Reno) and Frederick Jensen (California).
Elinor is remembered as a loving, giving and amazing aunt to 8 nieces and nephews; 10 great nieces and great nephews, and their children. She was an active member of the International Chapter P.E.O. Sisterhood.
She graduated from the University of Nevada and was a teacher in Fallon for 2 years; spent 2 years in Germany; and another 36 years teaching at Washoe County School District and received a Teacher of the Year award. Elinor was passionate about playing bridge; collected old irons, which she donated to the Nevada Historical Society; loved hunting for arrowheads, camping with family and friends, and being in the outdoors of Nevada. She also enjoyed tending to her beautiful yard and knitted sweaters and hats for hospital patients. Elinor loved to travel and visited over 30 countries over her lifetime. One of her treasured projects was making family genealogy photo albums, which date back to the late 1700s of family from Denmark and Germany, to pass down to generations of Jensens and Springmeyers.
Elinor could recite verbatim the words spoken by the minister at her young father’s funeral: “It has been a long time since the passing of one so young has touched the hearts of a whole community of kindly disposition and a fidelity that knew no bounds; he was held in highest regards to all who knew him.” Elinor also touched the hearts and lives of her many friends and family; she lived an incredible 98 years; and was an inspiration to everyone. She will be laid to rest next to her father in the Jensen family plot in Gardnerville.