Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Eunice Genevive Joy SCHMIDT
Eunice Bennett Spruance was born July 22, 1922, in Anamoose, N.D. Her given name, Eunice Genevive Joy Schmidt was a long one! Throughout her life, she enjoyed many nicknames such as, Eunie Been, Muzz, Grams, Eunie and the ever-popular, Mrs. Bird, which she called herself in recognition of her amazing ability to simultaneously complete a large number of seemingly unrelated tasks through continuous hummingbird-like motion! The second of five children, Eunice was best known for her blonde curly hair, sunny disposition and love of music. She spent many hours with her sisters performing for their parents and relatives and would often entertain customers in the Anamoose General Store, which their grandparents owned. Bad financial conditions during the Great Depression forced the Schmidt family to move to Ashley, N.D., where Eunice attended high school. She was an excellent student, a talented basketball player and continued to expand her musical abilities through singing with local bands as well as those passing through. Eunice followed her older sister to the University of North Dakota in 1940, where she entered nursing school. Her musical talent resulted in her selection as the featured soloist with the Fred Waring Orchestra during a campus concert. It was at UND that she met and fell in love with Warren Bennett "Ben," a handsome future pilot and Air Force officer. World War II caused education plans to be disrupted, so Eunice packed up her clothes and wedding gown and rode the train alone to South Texas to marry Ben who was in flight school. The next three years were spent at various duty stations throughout Texas and the Midwest. After a two-year sabbatical to earn Ben's college degree, they re-entered the Air Force and received orders to Japan. Following that assignment, Eunice and Ben lived in a number of different states and countries, including Spain. Eunice was an enthusiastic Air Force spouse who contributed immeasurably to Ben's career. She was particularly good at sponsoring social functions as well as caring for squadron wives when the husbands were gone. She was also able to add the Spanish language to her already excellent linguistic capabilities, and earned a realtor's license which was a valuable asset. Eunice believed in people and could always find the good in a person. Her word was her bond and she often conducted real estate transactions through trust, a smile and a handshake; the contract could follow later. After Ben's Air Force retirement in 1965, they settled in Las Vegas, where Eunice sold real estate for the Collins Brothers and Heritage Realty. Four sons were born along the way, Bud, Roby, Bill and James. Sadly, Ben passed away in 1983. Eunice continued her work in real estate and traveled to see her children, some of whom were living in foreign countries. In 1989, she married a recently widowed friend and flight school classmate. Eunice and BGen (ret.) William W. Spruance were very active in the social scene and enjoyed the next seven years immensely, dividing their time between Marathon, Fla., Wilmington, Del., and Las Vegas. Unfortunately, Eunice suffered physical setbacks in 1996, resulting in short-term memory loss. True to form, her sunny disposition and optimism helped her regain much of what she had lost. She and her husband continued to participate socially and travel at a reduced pace. Unfortunately, she was unable to defeat recurring cancer and passed away in her Las Vegas home. Eunice is survived by her husband, Bill; four sons; 13 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Her legacy is one of kindness, optimism, love and the joy of life. Eunie's smile is still contagious. And if you listen very carefully, those of you who were closest to her will hear her singing those special lullabies, "...tralli nuka, nuka ocean billow..." Our world is a lesser place with her passing, but she has earned her place in Heaven. Rest well, our sweet one.
Visitation will be 1-7 p.m. Saturday, March 20. Services will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 21, both at Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Interment will follow at Palm Valley View Memorial Park.
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