Laura Elsie Land, age 94, of Northwood, Iowa, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at the First Lutheran Church, 309 N. 9th St., Northwood, with the Rev. Paul Holmer officiating. Burial will be in the North Shell Rock Cemetery, rural Northwood. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. S., Northwood, and one hour prior to service on Monday at the church.

Laura Elsie Land was born on April 26, 1909, in Seneca, S.D., the daughter of Helmer and Maria (Olson) Myli. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She attended and received her education in the rural Chickasaw County and Hanlontown schools.

She was united in marriage to Clayton Land on July 23, 1927, in New Hampton, Iowa.

After their marriage Laura and Clayton farmed for many years in the Glenville and Hartland Township area. They moved to Northwood in 1975, and to this union seven children were born.

Laura was an avid gardener and she loved her flowers, and was very enthusiastic over the ribbons she won at the Worth County fair.

She also made quilts all her life, and was the only lady that patched a patchwork quilt.

Laura loved her family, their lives were most important to her.

She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Northwood.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Lila Funk of Charles City, Iowa, Lily Anderson and her husband John of Albert Lea; Luan Sallee of Albert Lea; Andrew Land of Dent, Minn.; Harry Land and his wife Mary of Swisher, Iowa; Carolyn Kalvig and her husband Carl of Northwood; and Frances Christiansen and her husband Roger of Lake Mills, Iowa. Laura also raised two grandchildren: Russell Sanden of Gordonsville, and Loretta Starkey of Jacksonville, Fla. Also left to cherish her memory are 24 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Anna Sanden of Albert Lea; several nieces and nephews; as well as other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clayton; a granddaughter, Cathy Funk; a great-granddaughter, Sherry Starky; a daughter-in-law, Joanne Land; three brothers: Phillip, Maurice and Robert Myli; and four sons-in-law: Donald Sallee, Fred Funk, Milford Leidal, and Gilman Sanden.

Blessed be the memory of Laura Elsie Land.