"Dear Pam, Craig, Steven, Stuart, Harriet, Ron and your families Sending love and sympathy to all. I have fond memories of the Tollefson farm, Minneapolis & Viroqua High School. Elaine was my best friend. I stayed with her many times, she cut my hair, gave me home permanents (even a poodle cut), we double-dated & enjoyed school activities. I was also a farm girl that moved to Madison with Elaine and two girlfriends. A 1 bedroom, 1 bath apartment with 2 bunkbeds. No cars, we walked to work, at the University, always in high heels. I also married an airman from Truax, Jack from Boston, Massachusetts. Elaine & Dick were with me, at Madison Airport, when Jack left for Korea, I was with them in California when we welcomed him back to the states. We kept in touch, saw them at class reunions, visited them in Hawaii & Austin & met at Atlanta Airport when they changed planes. I talked to Elaine when she was out of the hospital. Her phone number was on my desk to call. I was never able to make that call. Love to all. Myrna Jerman Humphrey & Jack, Jonesboro, Georgia"
In loving memory of
Elaine Joyce Coy
August 1, 1935 - May 3, 2021
Elaine Joyce Coy
Elaine went to be with the Lord after passing away peacefully on Monday, May 3, 2021 in her apartment home at The Watermark at South Park Meadows with family and friends at her bedside.
She was born on August 1, 1935 in Vernon County, Wisconsin to Ernest and Ada Tollefson and was baptized in Immanuel Lutheran Church in Viroqua on August 25, 1935.
Elaine grew up loving music. She played the piano, sang, and was a member of the Viroqua Blackhawk Marching Band during her high school years where she played the clarinet. After graduation in 1953, she literally came straight off a dairy farm and moved to the big city of Madison with three of her girlfriends and began working for the University of Wisconsin Hospital as a medical transcriber. When they were not working, they chummed around with a group of Airmen from Truax Field where Elaine became reacquainted with Richard "Dick" Coy, who had graduated the previous year and was stationed there as a member of the Air Force.
After many months of courtship, they fell in love and were married November 13, 1954 at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Along with their four children, they spent 25 gratifying years in service to their country living in California, France, Illinois (twice), Maine, Wisconsin, Hawaii and in Austin, Texas where Dick retired from the Air Force and later passed away on November 3, 1996.
During this time, Elaine was a devoted mother and homemaker while also working part-time. Somehow she still found time to volunteer as a Cub Scout Den Mother, registrar for her daughter's kindergarten, homeroom aide, girls Brownie helper, Little League Baseball refreshment stand, Sunday School teacher along with baking endless dozens of cupcakes and cookies. Elaine spent 20 years happily working for the Texas Rehabilitation Commission in Administration where she made many long-time friends. She retired in 1998 and began working part-time for Bethany Lutheran Church where she was a member for 44 years.
Growing up on the farm, she learned to cook and care for her father and four siblings after losing her mother Ada when Elaine was only eleven. Elaine was of Norwegian decent and remained strong and fiercely independent despite life's challenges. Anyone who knew Elaine thought of her as graceful, kind and loving. She impacted many by her quiet generous heart and beautiful spirit. She was always well dressed with the latest fashion and looked fabulous sporting one of her dozens of hats! The simplest pleasures brought joy to Elaine such as watching her family enjoy a home-cooked meal of her mouthwatering meatballs, and mashed potatoes and gravy. Baking made her happy and she enjoyed making breads and assorted cookies for the auxiliary bake sales, family, and other gatherings. On special occasions, Elaine could be found wearing her apron in the kitchen making homemade lefse.
Whether in Hawaii, Port Aransas, or Galveston, Elaine loved spending time at the beach. In earlier years, when the kids were young she and her family spent time camping in parks across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Texas. Elaine was actively involved in church participating in Bible study, quilting, and working in the kitchen at the Annual Christmas Market. In the summer of 1995, Dick became ill with cancer and she was a steadfast caregiver at his side. On 9/11/2001, she began volunteering at South Austin Medical Center where she gave 4,608 hours of her time over the course of 15 years in various roles and as Team Captain for the SAMC Auxiliary. It was during this time that she met David Miller, who also volunteered at the hospital. They were companions for many years and spent time traveling whether it be an Alaskan cruise, a trip to Mexico, or traveling by car to visit family. She enjoyed a glass of red wine in the evenings and in recent years became interested in researching and documenting her ancestry. Above all, Elaine's family, friends and relatives meant so much to her and she made trips to visit them annually and hosted them quite often.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Coy; brother, LeRoy Tollefson; mother, Ada Lerum Tollefson; brother-in law, Butch Coy; sister-in-law, Claudette and husband Larry Mills; father, Ernest Tollefson; sister Clarice and brother-in-law Gordon Orvald; brother, Leslie and wife Lucille Tollefson; niece, Lonnie Kline; sister-in-law, Diane and husband Fred Adams; and companion, David Miller.
She will be deeply missed by her four children, sons Craig Coy of Buckley, IL; Steven Coy of Austin; Stuart and his wife Karen Coy of Shelby, NC; and daughter Pam and husband Bruce Bergquist of Houston; grandson Derek and wife, Hannah Bergquist; granddaughter Kristin and partner Mike VonBerge, of Minneapolis; grandson Zachary and wife Allison Coy of Austin; granddaughter Taylor and husband Michael Lacy of Tomball, TX; granddaughter, Paige and husband Spenser Seifert of Columbia, SC; grandson Colton Coy of Charleston, IL; great grandsons Logan and Miller Morrison; great granddaughters Brynleigh Morrison, Alison Lacy, Haven VonBerge and Mckenna Bergquist; Sister Harriet and husband Myron, and brother Ronald and wife, Jane Tollefson and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Austin, TX on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 3:30 PM.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the caring doctors, nurses, and medical staff at St. David's South Austin Medical Center, The Watermark at South Park Meadows, Encompass Home Health and Hospice Austin. Also, there are not words to express our gratitude to neighbors, Virginia and Bob Staats in addition to dear friends Suzanne Faught and Leslee Camarillo, who have provided support, love and compassion to Elaine over the last several months and years.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a charitable donation to Bethany Lutheran Church or the Wounded Warrior Project.