Elaine Hammerschmidt, age 80, of Redwood Falls passed away Thursday, March 1, 2012 at Sanford Sioux Falls Medical Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 7 at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church.

Visitation will be 4:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Redwood Valley Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to service at the church on Wednesday.  Interment will be in St. Catherine’s Catholic Cemetery.  Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Elaine Irene Hammerschmidt was born June 9, 1931 in Stately Township, Brown County, Minnesota to Louie and Mabel (Johnson) Liebl.  She grew up by Wanda and attended Wanda and Sanborn schools.  On September 16, 1948 she was united in marriage to Reynold “Swede” Hammerschmidt.  Together they farmed in rural Dawson from 1952 until 1960, when they moved to Redwood Falls.  Elaine was a stay at home mother and raised her family.  During the early years of marriage, Elaine and Swede formed a family band called “The Harmony Knights”.  That band played throughout the next 20 years.  Beginning in 1962, she worked at the County Assessor’s office as a secretary for about 10 years.  Elaine then worked at the DAC (later Service Enterprises) until her retirement.  From 1982 to 1992, while at the DAC, Elaine taught music to the residents and produced the Korn Kob Korners, a musical variety show.  She had a love of music and showed it by playing music semi-professionally at many shows, and later volunteered regularly at many nursing homes all over the area.  She enjoyed refinishing furniture, reading, and cooking.  She loved watching Wheel of Fortune and American Idol faithfully because of her love of music.

Elaine is survived by her husband Reynold “Swede” Hammerschmidt; children: Steve Hammerschmidt, Kenny (Carol) Hammerschmidt, Scott (Esther) Hammerschmidt, Danny (Karen) Hammerschmidt, and Pam Sisco, all of Redwood Falls; grandchildren: Stacey (Chad) Heiling, David, Chad (Kelly), Kelly, Clair, Michael (Alyssa), Mary, and Luke Hammerschmidt, Cory (Angie) Stephens, Angie and Amanda Sisco; 8 great grandchildren; siblings: Leonard Liebl and Alice Schueller, both of Dawson, and Mary Larson of Lakeville; and sisters-in-law: Ilene Willand, Pat Liebl, and Janet Liebl all of Dawson.  She is preceded in death by her parents, 2 siblings in infancy, son Michael, daughter-in-law Becky, grandson Rick Stephens, brothers Armin, Eugene, and Aloys, brother-in-law Adrian Schueller, sister-in-law Ione Liebl, and nephew Tom Liebl.  Blessed be her memory.