Elna P. Schmit, 82, died April 4, 2003, at her home in Oak Harbor. She was born July 29, 1920, in St. Paul, Minn., to David Gunnard Nelson and Salma Wihlemine (Erickson) Nelson. Elna spent 78 years in the St. Paul area.

Mrs. Schmit worked in an ammunition factory during World War II. In 1942, she was married to Jacque A. Schmit. Following the war, the Schmits began raising a family with Elna becoming a stay-at-home mom. As the boys grew, she went back to work. She served as a school secretary for the St. Paul School District. She moved to Oak Harbor in 1999 to be with her son Michael. Mrs. Schmit was an active member of Redeemer Baptist Church of St. Paul. She was a talented seamstress, loved to cross-stitch, crochet and do leather tooling.

Two sons and their families survive Mrs. Schmit: Jack and Sharon Schmit of St. Paul, Minn., and Michael and Ila Schmit of Oak Harbor. Two sisters, Astrid McDaniel and Ruth Kopischke of St. Paul, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by her husband Jacque and one son Kenneth.

Funeral services will be held in St. Paul with burial to follow at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor, Washington. This obituary is on-line at http://burley/plan4ever.com.