At the age of 93, Elaine Putnam Slater passed away March 2, 2013, as the result of a stroke. She was born Jan. 27, 1920, the second oldest of 12 children. Her parents were Euvern Frank Putnam and Ruth Alice Searight Putnam. In 1940, she married Eldred Lee Condry. He later left her and two children, Norreta and Juanita. As a single mother she supported her children by cooking lunches at the Auburn Elementary. Elaine moved to Thayne, where she married James Roy Slater in 1942. In the following years, three more children were born: Patricia, Luella and Janis Elaine. Roy and Elaine ran the family farm together. She also worked in the cutting room at the Star Valley Swiss Cheese Factory, and worked there until she retired. She was a great mother, and taught her girls to be honest in their dealings, as well as to treat people with respect and not to judge. Elaine also taught her girls to pray and trust in God. She was an incredible seamstress. The girls could show her a picture and she could cut out her own patterns andthen sew a beautiful dress. She was also a good cook. Elaine and Roy taught the girls the value of work, and there was always plenty of work to do on the farm. Despite their small house, there was always room for company. Summer time always had visits from many relatives. Elaine loved her grandchildren and was always proud of their accomplishments. She tried to see each of their events. Whether it was a ball game or baptism, she was there. After Roy's death in 1993, Elaine continued to live in Thayne. She was able to join her daughter and son-in-law the past five winters in Arizona and Nephi, Utah, during the winter months. Elaine loved to go with them in their fifth wheel, and enjoyed the new friends she met during their travels. She lived her last 18 months in Nephi. Elaine always lived a Christ-like life and in 1998, she and her husband and children were sealed to her in the Mt. Timpanogas LDS?Temple. In addition to her five daughters, Elaine has 24 grandchildren, 75 great grandchildren, and 34 great great grandchildren, making a total of 185 family members. She is survived by her daughters, Luella (Arthur) Summers; Janis (James) Hunsaker; brother, Erlon Putnam; sisters, Gloria Corsi, Joann Negus, Rosalyn (LeRon) Allred, Sylvia Pead and Ruth (Val Dee) Swenson.
Preceding her in death are her parents, Euvern and Ruth; great grandson, Keegan Lainhart; grandson Isaac Lainhart; daughters, Juanita Lainhart, Patricia Hillstead and Norreta Allred, brothers, Nord, Gerald and Euvern (Bun), sisters, Nora Campbell and Corine Nelson.