Laura Lou "Zell" Eidsness

Laura Lou Zell was born on June 7, 1933. She was the daughter of Susan Rouse Zell and Melvin Zell. Laura had two sisters, Geraldine and Bernadine, and three brothers, Walt, Joe, and Fred. Laura attended Frankfort High School - "The Falcons". A proud Falcon, Laura played softball, was a cheerleader, and homecoming queen. One of the things of which Laura was most proud was to be selected as the American Legion Girl's State representative of her high school class. As such, Laura went to Mitchell with the other representatives from the state where they learned more about the political process.

Laura married her high school sweetheart, Clayton Boyer, in1951. Shortly after their marriage, Clayton was drafted into the army and was stationed at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Their first child, Daniel, was born during this time, and Laura and Daniel moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to be near Clayton. When Clayton was honorably discharged from the army, the family moved to Huron, South Dakota, where Clayton had obtained a job with Standard Oil Co. Their second child, Kathy, was born in 1956. Clayton's job occasionally required that he move, so during Clayton's years with Standard Oil, the family moved to Ipswich, then to Mobridge, and then to Brookings. The family lived longest in Brookings, so Laura could put down roots there. She was a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader. She and her children loved horses, and Laura was quite involved with the children and their horses in 4-H. She was on a softball team and loved to play softball. She was also a Sunday School teacher.

In 1969, Clayton was transferred to Bettendorf, Iowa. The children were now in high school, which gave Laura the opportunity to attend college to receive her Licensed Practical Nursing degree. She then worked at the Moline Public Hospital from 1970-1981.

Clayton had been experiencing bouts of ill health with odd symptoms that baffled his doctors. Finally, he was diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. When Clayton's failing health caused him to retire, Laura and he decided to move back home to Redfield, South Dakota. For several years after this move, Laura was able to continue working at the Beverly Nursing Home and then at the State School as a Med Nurse. As Clayton became more ill, Laura quit her job to stay home and care for Clayton full-time. After 35 years of marriage, Clayton died in 1989.

In 1990, Laura met the second love of her life, Floyd Eidsness. Floyd's wife had died years earlier leaving six young daughters. Laura and Floyd were married in Redfield at an open house wedding in the United Church of Christ in 1991. They honeymooned in Hawaii. Both Laura and Floyd were retired and their respective children were grown up. The years Floyd and Laura had together were happy years. They spent their winters in Phoenix AZ where they danced, golfed, and had many friends. They went on a Mediterranean cruise. They traveled to Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, French Canada, and Mexico. Laura was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the United Church of Christ (Mary's Circle) for over 20 years.

Laura's daughter, Kathy, died of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in 2004. Kathy was much beloved and greatly missed. When Floyd's health began to fail, Laura and he had to hang up their dancing and traveling shoes and stay in Redfield full time. After 25years of marriage, Floyd died in 2015.

In June of 2018, Laura moved to Grinnell, Iowa, to be near her son Daniel and her extended family. While it was difficult for Laura to leave her Redfield friends and church, Laura has had great fun sharing her life with Daniel and her extended family since the move, attending church with Daniel and his wife, and eating at the Chinese Buffet after the service.

Laura is survived by her son Daniel and his wife, Jean; her grandson Jake and his wife Kate and their children Izzy and Grant; her granddaughter Cassy and Cassy's daughters Jillian and Tessa; her granddaughter Sarah and Sarah's children Aliz, Boden, and Cameron; her step-grandson Neil and his children Kelcy and Izaak, and Izaak's companion Gloria and their daughter Amelia; and her stepson Nick and his wife Katy and their children Alexander, Max, and Emmett. Laura is also survived by her step-daughters Tammie, Mary, Sonja, Laurie, Cindy (Cindy stayed in close touch with Laura, never missing a Christmas or a birthday) and all their children.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Kathy, her husbands Clayton and Floyd, her brothers Walt, Joe, and Fred, her sisters Geraldine (and her husbands Doyle Whirley and Roy Starkey) and Bernadine (and her husband Evan Wiles), her step-daughter Sandra Jones, and her nephew Alexander Wiles Schuttler.

A private graveside service will be held in Frankfort, South Dakota, at a later date