Emma Lou (Reed) Yenko was born on September 16, 1931 in Wyoming, DE and passed away on April 15, 2025 in Loveland, CO. Her parents were Charles Herman Reed and Ora (Clark) Reed. Emma Lou was preceded in death by her brothers, Andrew (Carol) Reed and Robert (Alice) Reed. She is survived by her brother, Boyd (Mary Anne) Reed, her husband Nick, daughter Katrina (Rick) Watts, sons Ronald (Pam) Yenko and Charles Yenko, seven grandchildren (Alisha (Red), Alex, Kaitlyn (Rance), Jacob (Annie), John, Noah, Jack) and three great-grandchildren (Oliver, Lucy, Tiegan). Another great-grandson is due in July.
Emma Lou grew up in Jonas Ridge, in the mountains of North Carolina. She loved reading, visiting, and walking barefoot in the woods. She attended nursing school in Milford, DE. including a week in Philadelphia for infectious disease training. Upon graduation she joined the Air Force for two tours of duty to see the world. She attained the rank of Captain. Her first stop was Long Island, NY where she did her initial military training before moving on to Germany. She left the Air Force after her first tour to attend Texas A&M, but she rejoined the Air Force before graduating. Her next posting was Fukuoka, Japan, where she met Nick.
They married when they got back to the States on November 27, 1963 in Roswell, New Mexico and lived briefly in Seattle before moving to Billings, Montana, where Nick was a partner at The Children’s Clinic and where they raised their children and spent most of their lives. In addition to working as a registered nurse and being a wife and mother, Emma Lou played tennis competitively and was active in many charities throughout her life including PEO, Supporting Cast at Billings Studio Theatre, Ronald McDonald House, Church Circle, and many others.
Private services have already been held.
