Elaine Emma Henning, age 93, of New Ulm, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at the Sleepy Eye Care Center.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm, with Pastor Timothy Smith officiating. Burial will follow in St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be 3-6 p.m. on Sunday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home-NORTH Chapel in New Ulm, and will continue on Monday one hour prior to the service at the church.

To leave an online condolence for the family or sign the guestbook, please visit: www.mvfh.org.

Elaine Emma Henning was born on October 20, 1932, at her family home in Canton Township, Michigan, to George and Emma (née Doletzky) Petrowsky. She was baptized on November 13, 1932, at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wayne, Michigan, by Pastor O.J. Peters. She attended St. John's Lutheran School and was confirmed on May 26, 1946. Following her graduation from Detroit Lutheran High School in 1950, she pursued higher education at Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois. Upon receiving a three-year teaching certificate, she began her teaching career at St. John's Lutheran School in Jefferson, Wisconsin, and subsequently taught at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Saginaw, Michigan. In 1979, she completed her studies at Dr. Martin Luther College, in New Ulm, Minnesota, earning a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. She dedicated much of her time as a volunteer tutor and librarian at St. Paul's Lutheran School.

On July 7, 1957, Elaine was united in marriage to Thomas Henning at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wayne, Michigan. The couple relocated to Washington State, where her husband was called to establish a mission congregation, Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Bellevue, Washington. It was during this time that their children, Rebecca, Peter, and Paul, were born. In 1962, the family settled in New Ulm, Minnesota, where her husband was called to be pastor at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Their family grew to include four more children born in New Ulm: Philip, Timothy, Rachel, and Ruth. In addition to volunteering at St. Paul’s School, she maintained an active membership in St. Paul's Ladies' Aid (WINGS) throughout her decades in New Ulm.

Elaine is survived by her children: Rebecca (Paul) Berger, Peter (Annette), Paul (Linda), Philip, Timothy (Coralee), Rachel (Rollin) Fawcett, and Ruth. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Margaret (Rob Johnson), Michael (Melissa), and Matthew (Camille) Berger; Jennifer (Lance) Gigout; Lauren (Curtis) Siefker, Dustin, Marcus, and Ryan (Cait) Henning, and Tonia (Ty) Eklund; Miriam (Nick) Schisel and David Henning; Anna and Elizabeth Henning, as well as 17 great-grandchildren. Her surviving siblings include Harold (Elsie) Petrowsky, Rita Alexander, and Karen Guyor. She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of 68 years, the Reverend Thomas Henning; an infant grandson, Joshua Henning; sisters Lois Gartner and Eleanore Becker, and two infant siblings, a sister and a brother.

Memorials are preferred to St. Paul's Lutheran School, Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, or Martin Luther College.