Elaine Marie (Miller) Bleam

Elaine was born on Wednesday, December 26, 1928 to Mattie Lee Mason Miller and Fred William Miller in Butler County on the farm. She attended Coldwater #9 Country School through eighth grade before going to high school in Greene, Iowa. She went to Iowa State Teachers College (Now UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for her two-year elementary teaching certificate. She taught fifth grade for two years in Manson, Iowa. She enjoyed her time teaching and always treasured it.

In 1950, she married Donald Emory Bleam and they made their home on a farm near Manson, Iowa. Three boys were born to them: Gregg David, Bradley Todd and Clay Donald. Her husband Donald passed as the result of a car accident in 1980, and Brad and Clay took over the farm operations. 

Elaine always had a large garden and enjoyed flowers, later planting butterfly gardens and becoming a Master Gardener. She had a love of traveling and had the opportunity to travel to China with a People-to-People tour.  After that she enjoyed traveling to many countries. Her love of children was apparent throughout her life. She enjoyed her nieces and nephews visiting in the summer and going to Twin Lakes, swimming and water skiing. She loved having her grandchildren come to visit and always enjoyed their stays. 

She was a member of P.E.O. and Republican Women. In 2003, she moved to her home at Twin Lakes that she had built, where she enjoyed the beautiful panoramas of the lake. Her genuine faith remained a source of strength to her and others throughout her life, and one of her dearest wishes was that those close to her would know the Lord.

She is survived by Gregg and Kathy Bleam (Charlottesville, VA), Brad and Pam Bleam (Twin Lakes), and Clay and Shelly Bleam (Manson), as well as her grandchildren: Maison Bleam, Canon Bleam, Fairon Hahn, Lauren Bleam, Parker Bleam, Kylia Doyle, and Alex Bleam.

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