Elaine H. Smedsrud, 72, Sioux Falls, S.D., formerly of Hills, died Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Services were Friday, Jan. 3, at Faith Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. The Rev. Scott Sailer officiated. Burial was in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Hills.
Elaine Meents was born to Adolf and Amelia (Nentwig) Meents on Oct. 7, 1930, in Varina, Iowa. As a child she moved with her family to the Newell, Iowa, area where she grew up and received her education. She then worked as a hairdresser for a funeral home and as a meat cutter.
She married Eugene Christenson in 1953 at Wagner, S.D. The couple lived in the Pickstown, S.D., area before moving to Sioux Falls. She owned and operated the Home Café and later the Main Cafe both in Sioux Falls.
She married Morris Smedsrud on March 5, 1964, in Pipestone. She continued working in Sioux Falls until they bought the Corner Café in Hills. In 1980, they moved to Sioux Falls where she worked as night manager at Rentschler’s Truck Stop Café until ill health forced her retirement.
Mrs. Smedsrud was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was currently a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.
Survivors include her husband, Morris Smedsrud, Sioux Falls; five children, Allen (Jolene) Christenson, Nunda, S.D., Paul (JoAnn) Christenson, Ed (Shelly) Smedsrud, Chloye Smedsrud, all of Sioux Falls, and Todd Christenson, and his fiancée, Josette Chaban, Vermillion, SD.; 12 grandchildren; her sister, Irene Pearson, Sioux Falls; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Smedsrud was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Ira Meents, and six sisters, Agnes Meents, Leona Meents, Marie Meents, Nova Meents, Ellen Jensen and Harriet Schnetter.
George Boom Funeral home, Sioux Falls, was in charge of arrangements.