Aileen Gerdes

OBITUARY AILEEN A. GERDES Aileen was born on September 15th, 1918 to Daniel and Agnes (Adolphsen) Townsend at home on the farm in Pope County. Aileen attended and graduated from Villard Public School in 1938. On June 12, 1940, Aileen was united in marriage to Arnold Gerdes at her home place. Four children were born to the couple. Arnold and Aileen farmed in rural Villard. Upon retirement in 1986, Arnold and Aileen moved to Alexandria, but continued to make St. John?s Lutheran in Villard their church home. Aileen was an active member of Ladies Aide and Northside Birthday Club. She taught Sunday school for many years. In her later years, Aileen enjoyed playing BINGO, doing word searches, embroidery work and ?painting? fuzzy posters. She also continued to enjoy getting her hair done. Aileen was preceded in death by her husband Arnold, parents Daniel and Agnes Townsend, brother George Townsend, sister Ruth Paulson, brother-in-law Irvin Paulson, sisters-in-law Ruth Townsend, Florence Townsend, and son-in-law Ernie Hugghins. She is survived by her four children Audrey Gunderson of Alexandria, Allen (Barb) Gerdes of Villard, Ardis (Gene) Oswald of Miltona, and Anita (Roger) Kovar of Alexandria; brother Max Townsend of Alexandria, seven grandchildren, Kelli, Chad, Tonya, Ryan, Nicole, Heather, and Dawn; nine great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. Aileen A. Gerdes age 90 of Alexandria and formerly of Villard died peacefully at Knute Nelson in Alexandria on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. A funeral service was held on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at St. John?s Lutheran Church in Villard, MN with the Reverend Robert Petersen officiating. Interment was in the Leven Cemetery near Villard, MN. Casket Bearers were Richard Adolphsen, Larry Adolphsen, Tom Townsend, Ralph Townsend, David Paulson, and Kenneth Thurk.