Evangeline Ekdahl

Evangeline Genevieve (Nelson) Ekdahl was born on July 20, 1924, in Benson, Minnesota to Albin and Minda (Evenson) Nelson the oldest of five children.  She was confirmed at Fahlun Lutheran Church in rural Nelson.  Evangeline helped raise her younger siblings, and later started working at Garden Center.  In her early 20’s she worked at Pederson Drug Store which she really enjoyed.

Evangeline met John Ekdahl Jr. at the Hillside Club while they were dancing.  The couple was united in marriage on September 19, 1948, at Fahlun Lutheran Church in rural Nelson.  The couple bought a farm on Lake Louise where they farmed.  Evangeline had a very large garden and canned everything.  In 1976, they sold the farm and kept the lakeshore where they built a home.  They lived on the lake until 1991, and spent their winters in Arizona for 16 years.

Evangeline loved providing for her family, and was very Scandinavian, loved lutefisk and making lefsa.  She also helped with the Calvary Lutheran Church’s smorgasbord and worked as the chair for 3 years.  Evangeline and John enjoyed going dancing on Sat nights.  She also enjoyed playing cards and hosting card parties.  She will be remembered by her children as a generous, kind, gentle mother who had a lot of patience.

Evangeline died on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at Bethany Home in Alexandria at the age of 93.  She is survived by her daughters, Vicki (David) Schliek of Baxter, and Joni (Tom) Schroeder of Alexandria; sons, Robert (Vicki) Ekdahl of Alexandria, and Bradley (Annette) Ekdahl of Alexandria; grandchildren, Trisha (Stacy) Doty, Corrie (David) Jeremiason, Dean (Cassie) Schliek; thirteen great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandson, Ripley Johnson; sister, JoAnne Marxen of Detroit Lakes; and sister-in-law, Alice Nelson of Circle Pines, MN; and many nieces and nephews.  Evangeline is preceded in death by her parents, Albin and Minda; husband, John Jr.; brother, Roger Nelson and infant brother, Donald Nelson; and sister, Eunice Lesmeister.

A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 AM on Monday, October 23, 2017, at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.  Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service.