Elaine Lorraine Harmel

Elaine Lorraine Harmel was born on a small South Dakota farm on May 8, 1930 to William and Mary Harmel, both of whom were immigrants from Germany. She was the ninth -- and youngest -- child in the family. She was re-born on June 11, 1930 in the water of Holy Baptism and confirmed in June 1944 at St. Luke's Evangelical Church in Lemmon, South Dakota (a Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod church).

“Lanie’s” elementary school education experience at Orange Township Number 2 was typical for farm kids born in the 1920's and 1930's -- she and her older siblings walked 2 miles to attend a one-room school from first through eighth grade. Located on the southern border of North Dakota, Orange Township Number 2 still exists to this day in Adams County with an estimated population of 22. In 1945 the Harmel family moved to Lemmon, South Dakota, where Elaine attended Lemmon High School. She was active in the school's performing arts programs, participating in school plays and playing clarinet in the high school band.

Full of energy during her high school years, Elaine kept busy during her summer vacations, working at the local ice cream and sandwich café. On one occasion in July 1946, a café patron noticed how well Elaine enunciated as she waited on her customers. The patron, who happened to be the chief telephone switchboard operator at Northwestern Bell's office in Lemmon, offered her a job for $25 per week to work as a “clerk.” The wage, equivalent to about 63 cents per hour, was a good wage in those days, especially for a teenage girl. Little did Elaine realize then that her decision to accept the patron’s offer to work for “Ma Bell” would lead to a 37-year career with the Bell System, serving as an early example to other young women seeking to break through the corporate glass ceiling.

After graduating from high school in 1948 Elaine continued to work for the phone company. In 1951 -- at age 21 -- she took a big career step by transferring to Pacific Bell, resulting in her leaving the Dakotas and moving to San Francisco. For the next 32 years, Elaine climbed the career ladder at Pac Bell, starting out in the business office in one of the local plants and moving on ultimately to become a human resource manager for 4,000 telephone company employees. In 1983, Elaine retired from a successful career with Pac Bell. She moved to Sacramento 6 years later in 1989.

Elaine was active in the Lutheran Church during much of her adult life, both as a worshipping congregant and serving wherever there was a need. While living in San Francisco she attended West Portal Lutheran Church, assisting in managing the church’s finances as well as serving on the altar guild. Shortly after moving to Sacramento in 1989 she joined St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Citrus Heights. While there she served as a greeter for Sunday worship and participated on the church’s Stained Glass Committee. She was active with the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society, which assists missions throughout the world with letters of encouragement, financial support, and volunteer efforts. She also was one of St. Mark’s prayer warriors.

Elaine passed into eternity and into the presence of her Lord and Savior on December 2, 2020. She leaves her niece, Jacqueline Youngman of Port Ludlow, WA, and 8 nephews: Michael Harmel of Melba, ID; John Harmel of Aurora, CO; Jeffrey Harmel of Ontario, OR; David Harmel of Eatonton, GA; Robert Robbins of Boise ID; Richard Harmel of El Cajon, CA; Walter Harmel of El Cajon, CA; and William Harmel of El Cajon, CA. She will be dearly missed by family and others who had come to know her.

A graveside service for family and friends is planned for Spring 2021 at Mt. Vernon Memorial Park in Fair Oaks, CA.