Geneva H. Payne Emblem was born on April 20, 1912. She was the daughter of C. Otis Payne and Oleva Lund Payne. She was baptized May 25, 1912, by Pastor O. T. Storaasli and confirmed July 3, 1927, by Pastor O.M.O. Wee at Clarkfield Lutheran Church. Geneva and Selmer R. Emblem were married on September 28, 1946, by Pastor J.E.H. Akre at Clarkfield Lutheran Church. Geneva attended Clarkfield School, Clarkfield, Minnesota, and graduated from high school in 1930. In 1931, she graduated from Montevideo Teacher Training Department, Montevideo, Minnesota, and began her teaching career at that time. She taught elementary classes in rural schools in Yellow Medicine and Lac qui Parle Counties and at Boyd, Minnesota Elementary School. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Southwest Minnesota State University (Marshall, Minnesota) in 1971 and retired in 1976. Selmer and Geneva lived at their farm home in Tyro Township of Yellow Medicine County, and were members of Israel Lutheran Church, until he died on November 17, 1973. In 1977, Geneva moved from the farm to her home in Clarkfield. Activities in which she has participated include Israel Lutheran Church WELCA and church council member, R.S.V.P., Lutheran Social Service Senior Link, Meal Site, Right to Read Program, Laubach Literacy Program, Clarkfield Senior Citizens, Study Club, Care Center Auxiliary, and Clarkfield American Legion Auxiliary. She was preceded in death by her husband Selmer; her parents; brother Sheridan Payne;brother and sister-in-law Orville and Elaine Payne; brother-in-law Alfred West; niece Marlene West; sisters- in-law Laila Emblem, Alma Emblem, Clara Emblem Wallen, Mrs. Clarence Emblem, and Mrs. John Emblem; brothers-in-law John, Clarence, and Alfred Emblem; and great nephew Michael Sundlee. Survivors include sister Aletta West, Minneapolis; sister-in-law Donna Payne, Minneapolis; nieces and nephews: Gregory Payne and wife Dana Larson, Jennifer Payne and husband Mirrill Boike and daughter Jenna, Gloria Payne, Juli West Gardebring and husband Tomas and children Weston and Gretchen, Sharon Payne and husband Peter Dimich and son Peter Charles, Verna Wallen Sundlee and husband Orlin and children Rebecca Hintz and Andrea Day, Shirley Emblem White and children Paula Meyer, Brenda Meiers, and James White, Ruth Wallen Bruess and Husband Elroy and children Greg, Tammy and Danny Bruess and Patty Schrek, Carole Emblem Hocum and husband Marvin, Wanda Emblem Knutson and husband Danny and son Chris Aasen. "Blessed be the memory of our loved one, Geneva. We thank God for His gift to us of her 91 years of life with us." Visitation Saturday, February 21, 2004, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Prayer Service 5:30 p.m. Lynner Funeral Home, Clarkfield, Minnesota Funeral Service Sunday, February 22, 2004, 2:00 p.m. Israel Lutheran Church, Swede Prairie Township Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Officiating, Pastor Rob Kemppinen Organist, Helen Werner Soloist, Sharon Payne "Amazing Grace" "On Eagles Wings" Honorary Casket Bearers (her nieces) Juli West Gardebring, Jennifer Payne Gloria Payne, Sharon Payne Verna Sundlee, Ruth Bruess Shirley White, Carole Jane Hocum, Wanda Knutson Casket Bearers Gregory Payne, Tomas Gardebring Peter Dimich, Mirrill Boike Wes