Lena Scharnhorst was born December 16, 1898, in Bordenau, Germany. She came to the United States at age 9 with her parents. They settled in Manning, Iowa, and she received her education there at Ewoldt No. 7 country school, along with her siblings: Celia, Freda, and Henry. In 1914, the family moved to Egan, South Dakota.

She married Dirk Jessen on March 25, 1925, in Egan. He died in March 1927, and is buried in Union Cemetery, Flandreau, South Dakota.

She later married Henry Masemann on August 18, 1931, in Sioux Falls. They made their home in Trent.

Her husband died in June 1939. After his death she returned to Egan. For many years, she spent her winters in Edinberg, Texas. She became a resident of the nursing home three months ago.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Emil "Tootie" Steinhauer, Egan; three grandsons; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Walter, Edinberg, Texas; and a sister, Irene Thompson, Ramona.

Services will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Egan United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Egan.

Visitation will begin at noon today at the Skroch Funeral Home in Flandreau.
Argus-Leader, Sioux Falls, South Dakota April 25, 1990