Husband: Elmer

Elmer Frederick Lauritsen Skjonnemand's parents were among hundreds of Danish immigrants who settled in the Southern Downs in the later part of the 19th century (view his father Peter's ship record). At least six Skjonnemands arrived in Queensland from Denmark in the 1880s. Elmer's father, Peter Lauritsen Skjonnemand arrived aboard the Jumna in 1889.

He was born in the Warwick district in 1904 and had one brother, Louis, and two sisters, Doris and Vera.

When he grew up Elmer was a timber getter at Swanfels and drove the logging truck. In 1933, he helped prevent a murder during a fight at Swan Creek.  Rockhampton's Morning Bulletin reported on the 14th of March 1933 that William James Thorpe had been charged with attempting to kill William James Patrick O'Dempsey (read the article). Evidence in court showed that Thorpe had tried to strike him on the head with a rifle but Elmer Skjonnemand caught the gun and broke the force. (Thorpe's charge was later downgraded to grievous bodily harm. He was found guilty by jury and sentenced to 18 months prison including hard labour with a non-parole period of six months.) Elmer's son Paul recalls that the incident left Elmer with a broken finger that became permanently bent.

Dorothy Skjonnemand believes herself to be the illegitimate child of Elmer with Mary Jane Margaret Arstoll, who then married Elmer's brother, Louis Oliver Skjonnemand in 1932.

Elmer and Bertha met in 1937 and married three years later. Elmer's father had recently died so they went to live and work on Elmer's mother's farm and Elmer built a house for them on the property. They stayed for a year before buying a home in the same area of Emu Vale. The pair were to have four sons, Peter, Paul, Max and John.

Elmer had poor eyesight and was not accepted to serve during WWII. During World War II he ran a transport business with six trucks carting produce.

In 1950, Elmer and Bertha moved to Coomera and built a convenience shop on the highway. Here he lived and worked there until his death 30 years later in 1980.