Wynona Risk

Wynona (Eliason) Risk was born April 11, 1914 in Wahoo, Nebraska to Martha (Dahlman) and Edwin F. Eliason. She was baptized at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wahoo on May 31, 1914, and confirmed there on May 19, 1929. Nonie’s mother was the church organist and taught Nonie to play piano. Nonie was especially proud of her Swedish heritage, and proudly boasted her father was Police Chief of Wahoo during her childhood. Wynona attended grade school in Wahoo, graduating from Wahoo High School in 1932. She continued her education and graduated from Luther College School of Commerce in Wahoo. After graduation, she was employed as a secretary at the Central Bridge & Construction (owned by Elmer Risk) in Wahoo until her marriage to her high school sweetheart, Elmer’s son, Harley Risk on December 15, 1935. Nonie would always say she “married the bosses’ son”. They lived in Denver, Colorado for the first 6 months of their marriage, but then moved back to Wahoo to help Harley’s father in the family business. Harley was drafted by the Army and sent to Camp Adair, Albany, Oregon for basic training in the Infantry. Nonie then went to work at the Nebraska Ordinance Plant near Mead, Nebraska, working in the payroll department until the time she could join Harley in Oregon. In September of 1942, Harley was sent to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, prior to being shipped overseas. While overseas, Nonie lived with her in-laws. He returned in 1946 and they settled into married life in Omaha. In 1949, Nonie went to work at the Buffet & Son Grocery Store in Dundee (Omaha) as an office secretary where she worked for 20 years until the store closed in 1969. On May 3, 2008, the Durham Museum created a 6 month exhibit paying tribute to the Buffet family grocery store with a full replica of the interior of the store. A limousine was sent by Bill Buffet to Yutan to pick Nonie up for the official opening day. Nonie was honored as one of two surviving employees, and for her twenty years of service there. It was an experience she never forgot, and relished every moment of it! Nonie loved sharing stories about “little Warren” when he came to the store. Nonie then went on to work at Business Services & Equipment in downtown Omaha until they moved out west. She lived in Ralston and did not wish to drive that far. She was then employed by Dave Davies, C.P.A. until she retired in 1978. Harley and Nonie enjoyed 10 years of traveling around the U.S. visiting friends and family. The returned to Camp Adair and Camp Leonard Wood to reminisce about their time living there. The both enjoyed this time of their lives. In 1988, Harley passed away, and Nonie moved to Yutan, Nebraska at the urging of her niece, Sharon. She lived independently in Yutan for 20 years before moving to the Brookestone Meadows Home in Elkhorn in 2009. Nonie joined St. John’s Lutheran Church in Yutan in June 1996, and was active with their quilting circle. She was a gifted seamstress and sewed most of her clothes. She enjoyed and felt blessed by many dear friends there. She was also a member of the Senior Center in Yutan until it’s closing. In 2011, Nonie became a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Valley, NE. Nonie had no siblings, no children of her own, but was loved and cherished by her husband’s four nieces and one nephew. They watched her struggle and succeed through many difficult situations throughout the years, and her example of courage, determination, and strength have taught them all. Nonie has been described with such words as “genteel, sweet, poised, and proper”! She was an AVID Nebraska football fan, and kept amazing stats for each game for many years. She was a wonderful cook, baker, and made a perfect pot of Swedish “egg coffee”! Our loss is heaven’s gain! We celebrate her reunion with her Savior, her beloved Harley, and her parents!

Wynona Risk

April 11, 1914 - April 14, 2013