Erna Waskow Salmon, 102, of Sumner, died Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at the Hillcrest Home in Sumner.

Memorial services will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Chapel in Sumner with Rev. William Runaas, Jr. officiating.  Inurnment will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Sumner.  Friends may call for one hour preceding services at the funeral home on Tuesday. 

Erna Pauline, daughter of Herman and Minnie Blasberg Hagenow, was born September 2, 1913, in Bremer County, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Tripoli and graduated from Tripoli High School in 1931. She earned her teaching degree at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and later taught country school in Bremer County. On January 10, 1953, she was united in marriage with Clarence Waskow at Tripoli. Erna and Clarence moved to a farm on the east edge of Sumner and farmed there until Clarence’s death on July 5, 1973. Erna later married George Salmon on January 9, 1985. They made their home in Sumner for many years until moving to Denison. George’s death occurred February 13, 2005. Erna entered the Hillcrest Home in Sumner in April of 2005. She was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner where she was active in WELCA.

She is survived by a stepson, Dennis (Shirley) Salmon of New Hartford; a step daughter, Judy (Les) Tyler of Randalia; six step grandchildren; and sixteen step great grandchildren.

In addition to her husbands, Erna was preceded in death by a sister, Emelda Borcherding.