Elaine Mary Albretsen
March 19, 1933 – January 12, 2024
Elaine Mary Albretsen, 90, passed away on Friday, January 12, 2024. Elaine was born on March 19, 1933, in West Hartlepool, County Durham, England, the second and youngest child of John and Ethel Webster Haley.
Elaine was just six years old when World War II broke out and twelve years old when it ended. The family was forced to move from the coast in West Hartlepool inland to Dewsbury, Yorkshire because of the air attacks and bombings.
She continued in school until she was 14 years old and then went to work, first at a grocery store and then the woolen mill where she worked until she was 20.
Elaine immigrated to America with her parents, sailing on the last voyage of the “Queen Mary” on September 16, 1953. They arrived in New York City and traveled by bus to Salt Lake City, Utah. Over the years, Elaine worked several jobs including the Sweets Candy Factory, LDS Hospital as a nurse’s aide in the children’s ward, and the University of Utah.
She met her husband, LaVoy Albretsen, at the Rainbow Randevu stag dance in Salt Lake City, marrying a year later on June 18, 1955. They lived in Salt Lake where two daughters were born. They moved to Malad, Idaho in October 1957. LaVoy worked at the Idaho Enterprise until 1961 then they moved back to Salt Lake City where their two sons were born.
Elaine loved to travel and in the late 1960’s was able to return to England for the first time since coming to America. The family usually traveled on a yearly vacation; Disney Parks were some of her favorite destinations.
In 1976, they went into business with LaVoy’s sister and brother-in-law and bought a hotel in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. They ran the Home Hotel until 1994 when they retired and moved back to Malad. LaVoy passed away in 2005.
Since LaVoy’s passing, their youngest son, Carl, made sure Elaine was able to continue traveling. Their adventures included annual trips to Las Vegas where Elaine enjoyed playing the slot machines, San Francisco’s Alcatraz, England, and Boston. Carl was her main caregiver during the last years of her life.
She is survived by her four children, Sherrie (J.D.) Thomas, Mylene (Fred) Jones, Shaun (Roxanne) Albretsen and Carl Albretsen, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, LaVoy, and sister Beryl Palmer.
A viewing will be held Friday, January 19th, from 11 am – 12 pm at the Horsley Funeral Home, 132 West 300 North, Malad. Funeral services will follow the viewing at noon, also at the Horsley Funeral Home. Interment at the Malad Cemetery.
The funeral will e broadcasted and may be watched by clicking on the “watch video” tab below.