Elayne Mae Laird, age 77, of Fulton, SD died Sunday, June 20, 2010 at Firesteel Healthcare Center. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Thursday at Will Funeral Chapel with burial at Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 PM at the Will Funeral Chapel.

Elayne M. Lunders, daughter of Lawrence Lunders and Molly Wagner, was born in rural Salem, SD on March 11, 1933. She grew up in the Salem area and attended the Salem Grade School. Elayne then graduated from Notre Dame High School in Mitchell. While in high school she was employed at the North American Ice Cream Store as a waitress. After she graduated she moved to Denver, CO where she was employed as a telephone operator NorthWestern Bell Telephone Company.

She was united in marriage with Leonard Laird on April 10, 1953 in Mitchell, SD. The couple lived in Englewood, CO for five years, before returning to the Fulton, SD area. Elayne was a homemaker and stayed home with their children. After their children were raised, she was employed at the Holiday Inn at the front desk.

She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church where she sang in the choir at one time; and also a member of several book clubs. In her younger years, Elayne enjoyed dancing.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Leonard Laird, Fulton, SD; five children, Wayne (Odie) Laird, Scio, OR, Jeffrey Laird, Centennial, CO, Bradley (Mary) Laird, Lakewood, CO, Ginger (John) Patera, St. Joseph, MI, Kathleen (Nabi) Malekzadeh, Eugene, OR; nine grandchildren; one great grandchild; a brother, Ronald (Sandy) Lunders, Englewood, CO; two sisters, Alyce Higgins, Aurora, CO and Beverly Cooper, Denver, CO.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Carol; and a brother in infancy.

In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Elayne Laird’s name.