A memorial service was held in Lexington, Kentucky for Elna Nielsen Smith Melvin, 88 who died September 4, 1992 after a long illness in Lexington. Burial was in Blair Cemetery with Rev. Kenneth Jensen officiating.

Elna Nielsen Smith Melvin was born in Chicago, Illinois December 30, 1903. She was the daughter of the late H. Skov and Anine Nielsen.

She was baptized and confirmed in the old Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Blair.

She was a graduate of Blair High School. She attended Dana College and graduated from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She attended the University of California at Berkley where she received a Ph.D. in anthropology.

She married Dr. Maurice G. Smith. To this union, a son, Paul was born. Both he and Smith preceded her in death.

She later married Dr. Bruce Melvin who also preceded her in death.

In addition to her two husbands and son she was also preceded in death by a sister, Alice Nielsen Sheely and a brother, Harold Nielsen.

She is survived by one sister, Dagny Nielsen Hinton Swanson of St. Paul, Minnesota; three grandchildren, David, Allan and Brooke Smith; a sister-in-law, Martha Siert Nielsen and nieces, nephews and cousins.