Archived Services

Elaine Lois McCart
06-01-2020

Elaine Lois Hoard was born October 7, 1928, to Ross and Eva Hoard in Alcester, South Dakota. She was the third of four children. She graduated from the McKennan Hospital nursing school in 1949. As an RN, she worked in multiple hospitals, including polio wards in Texas, before marrying John B. "Jack" McCart in 1951. They raised five children together. During those early years, she worked part time as an RN. With her husband's strong encouragement, she returned to school when their youngest child started kindergarten. After completing her bachelor's degree, she worked as a nursing instructor at Sioux Valley Hospital (now Sanford Hospital), and completed her Master's degree.
Elaine and Jack also volunteered for various political candidates over the years. Elaine was a South Dakota state Senator from 1975-1976. During that time, she voted against a state income tax, despite being instructed by her party to vote for it. She reasoned that since the voters of her county had clearly and overwhelmingly communicated that they did not want a state income tax, as their elected representative, she was required to vote as they had instructed.
Elaine lived her values and passed them down to her children and grandchildren. She taught them the value of hard work, of always loving your family, and doing what you know is right no matter how difficult it may be. She will be deeply missed.
Preceding Elaine in death were her parents, Ross and Eva Hoard, brothers Glenn, Eugene, and Bob Hoard, her loving husband Jack, her daughter-in-law Susan, and granddaughter Megan.

Elaine is survived by her five children, Sondra Ferry (Doug), Santee, CA; John McCart, Jr (Susan, deceased), Brandon, SD; Mike McCart (Kim), Chancellor, SD; Terry McCart (Jay), Coon Rapids, MN; and Tammy McCart, El Cajon, CA; sixteen grandchildren; and twenty great-grandchildren.

Services will be held June 19, 2021 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Centerville, SD. Rosary will be at 10 am. Funeral will be at 10:30 am. There will be a light lunch in the church hall following the burial.