Funeral services for Edna Schmeichel, 90, of McLaughlin will be at 9 AM MT, Monday, February 25, 2019 at the Freedom Fellowship Church in McLaughlin. Burial will be at 2 PM MT, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Edna passed away Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at the Mobridge Regional Hospital.

Born to first generation Americans immigrating from Russia, Edna Viola Schmeichel (Moser) was born on August 7th, 1928, to Christ and Emma Moser on the South Dakota prairie - the place she would always call home. Edna enjoyed living on the farm during her youth. She could be found riding her pony and helping with the small family farmstead chores. When winters were cold she would make the mile journey to the bus that took her into town for school, of which she attended for two years after the local country school closed. She would navigate the complexity of both the 20th and 21st centuries with an 8th grade education she was always proud to describe.

Following her completion of the 8th grade, the Moser family moved to Mobridge, SD. Here Edna worked cleaning homes and later served as an employee of Crawford's Camp Store. Her residence in Mobridge would not last long, as a handsome soldier had returned from war-torn Europe and love would unite them in courtship at a local barn dance. On August 25th, 1946, Lester Schmeichel and Edna Moser were wed at the Mobridge Baptist Church. Despite Lester's passing in 2013, Edna Viola would love him until the very end.

After their marriage in Mobridge, the young couple would take up residence just north of McLaughlin. When reminiscing on their early years of marriage, Edna often flashed a smile that reflected the humble abode in which they occupied until moving to McLaughlin. Here, Lester and Edna would bring four children into this world. As a family they enjoyed camping, fishing, and working in the fields throughout the year. The family's passion for snowmobiling would be reflected in Edna's entry into Powderpuff racing - an outing Edna enjoyed thoroughly.

Edna's life was occupied with working in her home, though she spent some time working at Hatch's and Stoicks' grocery stores. She was often found baking in her kitchen, out in the garden with a sun hat and sunglasses, all while working close to her dear husband. Her family remembers her for singing in choirs, in the family quartet, and at many funerals. Memories will always be held of many days and late nights of pinochle. Whatever she did, Edna made sure her time was spent with her husband and family she loved so dearly.

In her final days, Edna spoke frequently of her desire to continue the eternal life she began in the fall of 1948 when she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. She spoke in equal frequency of seeing Lester after enduring nearly 6 years without him by her side, an immense change after almost 67 years of marriage. She has likely now joined the heavenly choir, after strolling the rose gardens in heaven with her favorite gardener - Lester Earl.

At her passing on February 19th, 2019, Edna's four children surrounded her in love - Fay Anderson (Norman) of Nebraska City, NE, Barbara Ernster (Dennis) of Sioux Falls, SD, Harvey (Patricia) and Daniel (Kathleen) Schmeichel, both of McLaughlin, SD. Edna was "Grandma" to 15 people she referred to as "loving, caring grandchildren." 20 great-grandchildren have learned or will learn of the woman who lived out her days on the prairie in faithful servitude for her precious Savior, and the man she always held most dear.