Lillian Helenor (Loftsgard) Reierson 1917-2006

LOFTSGARD, AMUNDSON, REIERSON, ANDERSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 11/18/2006 at 21:01:07

Lillian Reierson

Lillian Reierson passed away Saturday evening, Sept. 16, 2006, in the Palmer Lutheran Health Center at West Union. She was 89.

Funeral services for Lillian Reierson were held Wednesday, Sept. 20, in the Marion Lutheran Church at Gunder. The Reverend Marshall E. Hahn officiated. The organist was Deb Reierson. The casket bearers were: David Reierson, Dean Reierson, Ron Reierson, Curt Anderson, Bruce Anderson, and Doug Schrader. Burial was in the Marion Lutheran Cemetery. The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Clermont was in charge of arrangements.

Lillian Helenor (Loftsgard) Reierson was born April 17, 1917, to Theordore L. and Emma (Amundson) Loftsgard at the home of her grandparents, Hans and Martina (Johnson) Amundson in Marion Township, Clayton County, near Elgin.

She was baptized May 20, 1917, in the East Clermont Lutheran Church and confirmed August 14, 1932, in the Marion Lutheran Church at Gunder. Lillian attended the Vellersven School, the Clermont High School and graduated from the Postville High School in 1936, receiving her Normal Training teaching certificate. Since there weren't any openings for teachers following graduation, Lillian took a job as a nanny in Chicago until a school became available in the Marion Township, Clayton County, Iowa schools.

On June 4, 1943 Lillian was married to Mervin Clarion Reierson in the Marion Lutheran Church, where she was a lifetime member. Lillian sang in the church choir for 65 years, taught Sunday School for 40 years, and also taught Bible School for many years. She had served as an officer in the Marion Mission Society and the Dorcas Society of the Marion WELCA and also in the Decorah Conference WELCA. She was a leader for the girls' 4-H Club and served on the Clayton County 4-H committee. She was a chaperone on trips to the East Coast as well. Lillian moved from the farm to Clermont in 1980.

She loved to sew and made many quilts for World Relief, made crafts of many kinds, scrapbooks with pictures and articles of family, friends, and the many trips they made. In 1983 Mervin and Lillian enjoyed a trip to Norway with the Luren Singers of Decorah. The couple took time to visit with their relatives as well.

She is survived by two foster daughters, Rose Luckeroth Good Koepka and her husband, Arthur, of Crookston, Minn., and Ruth Stickley Westemeier and her husband, Rod, of Independence; six foster grandchildren, Brandon Stickley, Julie Good, and Shania, Jerod, Emma, and Luke Westemeier. Also surviving is her sister, Edna (Kenneth) Anderson, Postville; a brother-in-law, Joe Reierson and wife, Helen, of Elgin; a sister-in-law, Florence (Lloyd) Reierson, Postville; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Mervin, who died April 1, 2006; a brother, Marion Loftsgard; two brothers-in-law, Kenneth Anderson and Lloyd Reierson; and a foster granddaughter, Sabrina Westemeier.

Postville Herald-Leader, September 28, 2006