Lena was born October 8, 1904 at Hildreth, NE, to Dirk and Anna Franzen Harms. When Lena was four she moved with her family to a farm northwest of Brule. She attended school in Brule. After Lena's mother died in 1920 she continued to work on the family farm with her brothers.

On February 20, 1924 Lena married Howard Dresslar. It was a double ceremony with Howard's sister Thelma marrying Lena's brother Dick Harms.

The event took place at the Ogallala home of Jacob and Emma Dresslar. Lena and Howard made their home on the Dresslar homestead which was northeast of Brule.

They attended St. Johns Lutheran Church in Brule. Retiring in 1955 they moved to Ogallala and were active at St. Pauls Lutheran Church.

Lena loved to play cards and enjoyed sewing. She was devoted to her family.

In May 2004 she moved to Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant.

Preceding her in death was her husband Howard on July 3, 1972; her daughters Alice Struckman Russell in 2001 and Karen Smith in 2004; and granddaughter Lisa Lassiter.

Also three brothers: Henry, Dick, and Evert Harms and two sisters: Margaret Westerbuhr and Anna Westerbuhr.

Survivors include two daughters:

Arlene Elmshaeuser of Ogallala and Irl and her husband Clayton Cole of Brule. Son-in-law Lawrence Smith of Houston, TX.

Seven grandsons: Randy (Adela) Elmshaeuser of Ogallala; Kent (Susan) Elmshaeuser and Hal (Mary) Elmshaeuser all of North Platte; Mark Struckman of Mesa, AZ; Ted (Leslie) Struckman of Loveland, CO; Kevin (Tammy) Cole of Brule; and Kyle (Sherry) Cole of North Platte.

Three granddaughters: Jo Elmshaeuser of Lincoln; Diana (Don) Pedersen of Brule; and Carol (Peter) Yerdon of Cape Coral, FL. Also 23 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Monday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Draucker Funeral Home.

Funeral Service will be Tuesday, April 22, at 10 a.m. at St. Pauls Lutheran Church with Rev. David Dobbertien officiating.

Memorials have been established to St. Johns Lutheran Church of Brule and St. Pauls Lutheran Church of Ogallala.

Interment in the Brule Cemetery.