Echo Elsie Jenkins, age 92, of Rochester passed away Wednesday at Samaritan Bethany Heights in Rochester.
Echo was born July 15, 1919, the eldest child of Charlotte Carlile Jenkins and Grover Jenkins in Delavan, Minn. She graduated from Winnebago High School in 1937, and attended Winona Business College.
From 1942 to 1949 she worked as a switchboard operator for the Waters Conley Company and Rochester Dairy in Rochester. She became a member of the Red Cross Volunteer Nurses’ Aide Corps in 1944, and continued service for twenty years.
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Echo began a business career at the City County Credit Union in Minneapolis in 1949 and retired as an administrator after 35 years with the organization.
Echo was a 60 year member of the Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church in Minneapolis. She enjoyed the cultural offerings of the Twin Cities area theatres and events, travel in Europe and the United States, and delighted family members with souvenirs of her travel adventures.
In retirement she was active as a volunteer at the senior citizen store near her home, and was a regular at the 500 card table.
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She moved to Rochester in 2004 to be near her family. Echo faced adversity in her senior years with an unfaltering sense of humor and determination to maintain her independence that was amazing and inspiring to her family and friends.
She is survived by sister Gladys Riggott of Rochester; nieces, Ann Riggott, Rochester, Gayle Timm (Marlin), Plainview, Lynne Arnett, LaCrescent, Kaye Bothe Arnett (David), LaCrescent; nephews, Robert Riggott (Carmen), Stewartville, Donald Riggott (Kathy), Afton, Minn., James Riggott (Brenda), Rochester, Vern Arnett, LaCrescent, Lee Arnett (Mari), Colorado Springs, Colo.; 24 grand and great-grand nieces and nephews; sister-in-law Norma Blair, Winnebago, Minn., brother-in-law, Ralph Arnett, LaCrescent.
She was preceded in death by sister Donna Arnett, brother Guy Jenkins, and nephew Gary Jenkins.
A memorial service will be held at Arbor Terrace Apartments, 700 2nd Ave NW, Rochester, at 3 p.m. on August 10, 2011. Interment will be at South Ridge United Methodist Cemetery, LaCrescent. The family prefers memorials to Samaritan Bethany.
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The family would like to thank Dr. John Cierzan of Olmsted Medical Center for the wonderful care he provided Echo since her move to Rochester and also the staff of Samaritan Bethany Heights whose compassion and care for Echo in her last days was exceptional.
