Ellen Virginia (Raymond) Boroff, 86, of Kearney passed away August 4, 2024 at Good Samaritan Society – St. John's in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:00 am, August 9, 2024 at Kearney eFree Church with Pastor John Fowler officiating. Graveside services will be 2:30 pm at Westlawn Memorial Park in Grand Island. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, August 8, 2024 at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation services and one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are suggested to The Collage Center or the family to be designated later.

Ellen was born on March 19, 1938, in Cherokee, Oklahoma, to Robert and Margaret Raymond. She grew up in Cozad, Nebraska, where her family moved to a farm when she was in elementary school. She spent her childhood on the farm where her dad raised and sold lambs. She often spoke fondly of her favorite lambs she helped care for growing up.

Ellen graduated from Cozad High School in 1956 and went on to attend Nebraska State Teachers College (now UNK) where she was a member of what is now the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. It was at college where she met the love of her life, Claire Boroff.

Ellen and Claire married on December 27, 1959, and went on to celebrate 65 years together. They had three children: Gretchen, Craig, and Christa. Ellen started her teaching career in Bertrand but spent most of her working years teaching in Axtell teaching kindergarten, first grade and title.

On the weekends in the fall, you could always find Ellen supporting Claire and the teams he was coaching – first at several high schools and then at Kearney State College/UNK. During Claire's coaching career, Ellen only missed one game. Not only would you see Ellen at the games, but you would hear her too – her trusty cowbell, brought from her childhood farm, let everyone know which team she was supporting.

She loved spending her summers at Johnson's Lake and the many friends they had up there. Lake life definitely agreed with her. Many nights during the summer she and Claire could be found playing bridge with their neighbors. Ellen also liked to play bridge monthly with her friends.

Those who know Ellen know that she had a servant heart. She volunteered with CASA, Collage Center, and was a deaconess with the Evangelical Free Church. She and Claire also led several small group Bible studies. She made countless meals for people and met with many who were struggling in life. She was also involved in PEO. She loved her family and enjoyed having everyone at the house for holidays and attending her grandchildren's activities.

After she and Claire both retired, they enjoyed making up for lost time with wonderful vacations spanning from Alaska to Canada to Switzerland, Austria, Egypt, and more.

Ellen is survived by her husband Claire Boroff of Kearney; three children, Gretchen (Ed) Kinne of Grand Island, Nebraska, Craig (Debbie) Boroff of Grand Island, Nebraska, and Christa (Mark) Spencer of Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren Carissa Schmidt (Drake), Taylor Marquez (Aaron), Payton Kinne (Rebecca), Brooke Boroff, Michelle Boroff, Hannah Spencer, and Zach Spencer; great grandchildren: Taysom, Becs, and Brigham Schmidt, and Xander, Ellie and baby Marquez.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, sister Judy Miller, and brother Bob Raymond.