Erna Schneller was born on October 4th,  1913.  She is one of three children. Her sisters names are Bernice, Donna, and Edith.  Erna grew up on a farm in Southeastern North Dakota.  Her fondest memory of growing up is when her sisters would go outside and make mud pies.  They would set up a pretend stove and let the pies "bake" in the sun until the next day.  When they were young the sisters would even play circus in the barn, they did everything from making costumes out of things found around the barn to training cats and dogs to be in the circus.

 

     Erna went on to graduate from high school, and moved from South Dakota to the Sparta area.  Erna found work cleaning house's.  There was a young man that would make deliveries to the house where Erna worked.  The young mans name was Ted and his family owned the meat market here in Sparta.  Over time the two started dating and were married two years later. 

    Erna has enjoyed sewing and crocheting.  She has even made some of her own clothes and would make things for her son when he was young.  Sewing and graduating from high school have been great accomplishments for her.   

 

    Erna likes October because the weather is nice and her birthday is in the same month.  Erna's advice to all is to keep busy, learn all that you can because you never know when you'll need that information.  The most important lesson that Erna has learned over the years is that you should be pleasant, and be understanding of other peoples lives, and appreciate that they are doing the best they can.