Funeral services for Alta M. Schnell, age 84 of Lemmon, will be held at 2:00pm Saturday, March 29, at Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon. Pastor Florence Hoff will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery.


A family service will be held at 7:00pm on Friday evening at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.


Special music for the service will be provided by Dorothy Dayton, organist. Marilyn Willey will sing, "On Eagle's Wings", Russell Umback will sing, "Hallajullah Square", the Schnell Family will sing, "Amazing Grace", and the congregation will sing, "How Great Thou Art", and "His Eye Is On The Sparrow".


Serving as Active Casketbearers are her grandchildren, Joshua, Steven, Timothy Ranum; Todd Larson; Amanda Anderson, Matthew Larson; Sarah Meyer, Craig and Anna Brown; Dave and Mike Dix.

Honorary Casketbearers are her great grandchildren, Nora, Rachel, Eli and Joseph Larson; Hope, Ethan, Isaac, Ella, and Greta Anderson; Mikayla, William, and Katherine Alta Larson; all caregivers at Five Counties Nursing Home; and Chapter AH, PEO.


Alta Mae (Davison) Schnell was born on October 11, 1923 to John and Anna (Marler) Davison on their farm in Adams County, ND. She attended rural grade school in Adams County and high school in Lemmon, SD and Hettinger, ND, graduating from Hettinger High School in 1940. Following graduation she attended business college in Fargo, ND. Alta returned to Lemmon and worked for Dr. F. C. Totten and the Golden Rule department store. In 1943, she wanted to do her part for the war effort and became a "Rosie the Riveter", building ships at a shipyard in Portland, Oregon during World War II. Before she left for Portland, Alta had met a handsome young soldier who stole her heart, Clifford Glenn Schnell. After Glenn's discharge from the Army, Alta and Glenn were married on July 16, 1944, at her parent's home in Adams County, ND. Alta and Glenn made their home in Lemmon, SD, where their union was blessed with five daughters.


Alta was primarily a homemaker after the girls began to arrive, but she did continue to work from her home part time as a bookkeeper for several small businesses in the community. She was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis in 1955, but she was determined to live life to the fullest and with a cheerful and thankful heart. She was an active member of Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church participating in the women's group and as the financial secretary for the church for 28 years. Alta was a member of Chapter AH, PEO for over 50 years. She became a master seamstress and made much of the family's clothing for many years. Young girls of the community would often be blessed with Barbie doll clothing she designed and stitched. Even despite crippled hands, she continued to create decorative needlework pictures and many quilts. After Glenn's retirement the two of them enjoyed doing countless projects together for their girls and others. Alta always enjoyed giving of her time and talents to those she loved.


Alta was an inspiration to many people with her cheerfulness, faith, love, courage, and determination that she displayed through her countless years of illness. Her beautiful smile and serenity she displayed touched many lives. Alta became a permanent resident of Five Counties Nursing Home in 1997. She considered the many wonderful people who cared for her through the years as an extension of her family and she loved them as such.


Alta's greatest joy and pride was her family. She especially loved large family gatherings, and Christmas with the entire family was always very special. Her favorite times were those spent with her loving husband Glenn, her daughters and their husbands, all her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren. Her favorite summer activity was an outing to the family place at Shadehill Lake. She loved all the friends and family that were always gathered there, and of course watching all the activity. Her faith in God, and the strength He gave her, kept her enjoying life and continually giving love to others. Alta passed from this life on March 24, 2008 at Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon at the age of 84. Alta's life was a shining light to many and that flame will continue to shine in the hearts of her family and friends who loved her.


Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of 63 years, Glenn, her five daughters and sons-in-law: Lois and Charles Rose of Prescott, AZ; Betty and Clarke Ranum of Minot, ND; Colleen and Bill Larson of Lemmon; Ellen and Tim Brown of Edgeley, ND; and Cindy and Roger Dix of Keldron, SD; eleven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren; Joshua and Carrie Ranum, Steve Ranum, and Tim Ranum; Todd and Judy Larson and their children, Nora, Rachel, Eli and Joseph; Amanda (Larson) and Chet Anderson and their children, Hope, Ethan, Isaac, Ella, and Greta; Matthew and Krista Larson and their children, Mikayla, William, and Katherine Alta; Sarah (Brown) and Matt Meyer, Craig Brown, and Anna Brown; David and Belinda Dix and Michael Dix; her sister and brothers; Mildred Jennings, Gene Davison, Dave Davison; and numerous nieces and nephews.


She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Anna Davison; her brother, Neil Davison; and her sister, Vera Tyler.