Elsie Balda, age 93, of Oak Harbor, passed away on Feb. 2, 2012. She was born on Oct. 15, 1918 to Jake and Jennie (Fakkema) Balda in Oak Harbor.

After Elsie graduated from high school in Oak Harbor, she went to work at Oak Harbor Feed and Seed. She was there for nine years. Then for over 40 years she was the office manager for Oak Harbor Motors. She retired in 1991.

During this time she also served her church family faithfully. Elsie published the weekly church bulletin using a typewriter, mimeograph machine and stencil. For 25 years, she was also the editor of the church newsletter. She taught Sunday School here in Oak Harbor, in Dewey and at the Anacortes Christian Reformed Church. Elsie enjoyed gardening, crafts, making scrapbooks, playing ping-pong and doing crossword puzzles.

Elsie is preceded in death by her parents and three siblings Sally Eerkes, Harry Balda and Agnes Hamming. She is survived by two siblings, Jo Balda and Etta Hamming, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 at 2 p.m. at The Christian Reformed Church in Oak Harbor, with a graveside service at 1 p.m. at Maple Leaf Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, her family is asking that you send a memorial in her name to Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.