Laura Eileen Skophammer, age 67, of Bloomington, died on Mother’s Day, May 14, 2006.

She was a former newspaper editor and later manager and clerk at several retail stores in the Twin Cities. But her greatest pride was in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Her death came after what surgeons called an incredibly courageous battle for life during and after heart surgery Feb. 27. She had been hospitalized since Feb. 15. Laura was born Oct. 22, 1938, in Marhsall County, Ind., the daughter of Walter and Florence Hughes. She graduated from New Carlisle, Ind., high school in 1956 and attended Purdue University. She began her newspaper career as a stringer for the South Bend Tribune. She moved to California and became women’s editor of the El Centro Post-Press. It was there that she met and married Roger Skophammer, who was sports editor of the newspaper. They lived for a time in Rochester and Albert Lea, where Laura wrote an occasional guest column for the Albert Lea Tribune. Laura later became editor and columnist for the Scenic City news, a community newspaper in Duluth. In the Twin Cities she worked at Bloomington Drug, Montgomery Ward, Korner Plaza, Braun’s, Company’s Coming and Jack and Jill. Laura was one of 13 children.

She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers; and a sister.

Surviving are sisters, Eunice Clark of New Carlisle and Gwenivere Banker of Iowa City, Iowa; and brothers, James Hughes of Newport, Mich., Frank Huges of Niles, Mich., Alfred Hughes of Mazon, Ill., and Larry Hughes of Scottsdale, Ariz. She is survived by Roger, her husband of 47 years; sons, Roger Jr. (Deb) of St. Cloud and Peter (Dawn) of Bloomington; and daughters, Patricia Tulp (Chad) of White Bear Lake and Gwen Kettinger (Jerry) of Bloomington. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, Katherine Eastburn, Hopkins, Elise Skophammer, Burnsville, Margarete Robbins (Justin), Bloomington; William, Elizabeth and Patricia Kettinger, Bloomington, Gary Nelson, White Bear Lake, and Grant, Ethan and Luke Skophammer, Bloomington. Also five great-grandchildren, Nathan and Laura Eastburn, Hopkins, Cassandra Rockwell, Burnsville, and Brianna and Emily Robbins, Bloomington.

Laura was especially devoted to members of her bridge group, with whom she played for more than 35 years.

The family would like to express its deepest appreciation to the nursing staffs at Fairview-Southdale and Regency Hospitals for their tender, loving care during Laura’s 11 weeks in intensive-care units.

Private interment was in Hillcrest Cemetery, Albert Lea. The funeral service was 11 a.m. Thursday, May 18, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Bloomington.