Eunice Schramm

Eunice Charlotte Schramm, 94, died in the arms of her daughter, Barb, at Essentia Hospital on Sunday, July 3, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.Eunice was born on August 21, 1916, in the small North Dakota town of Milton to Edwin C. and Amy E. Swendseid Andrews. She was the oldest of three daughters. Because she and her sisters, Rosemary and Estelle, were so close in age, they were not only best friends, but also co-conspirators! As a child, Eunice moved with her family to many different towns, depending on where her mother, Amy, found a job as a teacher. Eunice's father, Ed, found work wherever they were, and often their home would be above the butcher shop where he worked. In 1931, the family moved to Glyndon, MN, where they ran the only gasoline station in town along with a small lunch counter. It was in Glyndon that Eunice met her future husband, Victor. Upon high school graduation at the age of 16, Eunice attended Moorhead Teachers College MSUM for 2 years, obtaining her teacher's degree. Just like her mother, she was a born-educator. In fact, they taught in schools very near each other in the Hawley, MN vicinity. When Eunice taught in Hawley, her mother, Amy, became the Superintendent of Schools for Clay County, and so it came that Amy was not only her mother, but also her boss. Vic courted Eunice for 5 years until he could afford a house. The wedding took place in the home he built for them in north Moorhead on June 9, 1940. Just after their first child, Victor L. Schramm, Jr., was born 1941, Vic, Sr. travelled around the country doing defense construction for 2 years, always accompanied by Eunice and little Vic. They then moved to the Tobolt farm rural Dilworth, MN in order that Vic could help his cousin, Harold. Their second child, Donna Kay Ryder, was born in 1943.After World War II, Vic and Eunice moved back to Moorhead, Vic returning to his house construction business. Eunice was always at his side as planning coordinator and decorator. Eunice's creativity resulted in homes that had the newest ideas and individuality. In 1949, their youngest child, Barbara Jean, was born, completing the family. Eunice was a member of the First Congregational Church Moorhead for 73 years. She served as deacon, sang in the choir, taught Christian Education, and was very involved in the youth ministry with her children. Eunice was also a member of PEO and a patron of SAI music fraternity. She served in leadership roles for the Cub Scouts, Blue Birds, and Campfire Girls while her children participated. Eunice also used her teaching abilities to help and encourage her children as they studied and practiced their music. Eunice loved to cook and entertain. She was as creative in the kitchen as she was helping Vic in their construction business. Eunice and Vic managed to send their children to prominent colleges for undergraduate and graduate degrees, always giving their children the best they could. Before retiring, Eunice and Vic built their dream-home on the Red River in Moorhead. In 1981, they retired, spending each winter in Florida near their daughter, Donna. They always travelled to wherever their children lived – all over the U.S. and Europe. Eunice especially liked being in the places about which she had always read. Eunice was an encyclopedia of knowledge. Renowned for her incredible memory, she would include the history behind all events, current and past; she could recall all the details of past and present members of family, church, and friends. She had an independent spirit from the beginning of her life to the end.Preceding Eunice in death was her husband Victor, her parents, Edwin and Amy, and her sisters, Rosemary Kaye and Estelle Olson. Surviving Eunice are her children, Victor L. Schramm, Donna Ryder, Barbara Schramm and husband, Roland Niess, her grandchildren, Thomas Ryder, Rebecca Dixon, Heidi Willard, Beth Podgorny, and Hale Schramm, and her 10 great-grandchildren.In lieu of flowers, memorials may or will be given to the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Moorhead.