Ritzville Journal-Times, Thursday, August 28, 1952

Polio Hits Home - Elaine Sielaff Is Victim

Polio struck home last Friday when Mrs. Elaine Janette Sielaff, a 20-year-old Adams county housewife, died of infantile paralysis in a Spokane hospital only a few days after she had been stricken.

At least three other Adams county residents have been inflicted with polio this year - none of whom fatally but one seriously - in the most violent outbreak of infantile paralysis in this county in many years.

Funeral services for Mrs. Sielaff, the former Elaine Kessler, were held Tuesday at Emanuel Lutheran church with the Rev. F. J. Ahrendt officiating. Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery.

Mrs. Sielaff was born in Ritzville, though her parents lived in the Sprague area at the time. She moved here eight years ago and attended Ritzville high school, where she was highly popular with her classmates and teachers and took part in many school activities.

The former Miss Kessler attained unusual prominence in tennis when she and the former Marjorie Edwards, who is now Mrs. Jim Schoesler, teamed in girls' doubles to capture the district Class B tournament at Spokane in 1949, their senior year.

Miss Kessler delivered the invocation at commencement exercises when the Class of '49 graduated.

Her employment during school years included working as a waitress at Templin's Cafe, and in the bindery department of the Ritzville Journal-Times.

Miss Kessler attended Washington State College for one year before her marriage to Dale Sielaff in 1950. The couple lived on a farm in the Marengo area.

Survivors include her mother, Mrs. Herman Kessler of Ritzville; two younger sisters, Joanne and Donna; and a brother, LeRoy, and husband, Dale.

Danekas and Duncan funeral home was in charge of arrangements.