Linnea Phelps

Linnea Esther Bloom was born June 13, 1927, in Duluth, MN, the daughter of John and Emma (Olsson) Bloom. She grew up and attended school in Duluth. Linnea graduated from Morgan Park High School and continued her education at Duluth Business University.

Linnea began working as a bookkeeper for the Minnesota Woolen Company.  She also worked as a music instructor at the Kult Music House. Music was a very important part of Linnea’s life; she was blessed with a gift of music. She played in the Duluth Symphony Orchestra, and she played clarinet and saxophone for a local swing band.  During World War II she provided the music on Sunday mornings for a radio program in Duluth.  At age thirty-two Linnea lost her hearing, and still continued to instruct students, by feeling the instrument being played. Very recently a video was made of Linnea playing the harmonica.

Music was always in her life. She met Glade Phelps, a musician with another local swing band in Duluth. On June 6, 1947 Linnea and Glade were united in marriage. They made their home briefly in Duluth before Glade’s work took them out West. They lived in Coeur D’Alene, ID, Seattle, WA, and Bellingham, WA. In 1963, the family returned to Minnesota, where Linnea and Glade purchased the Sherry Hardware Store in Alexandria. Linnea and Glade eventually owned the Ace Hardware Store in Alexandria, Glenwood and Long Prairie. The store in Glenwood was sold in 1999. Linnea continued working at the Alexandria store until retiring for health reasons in 2013.

Linnea loved lake living. When they moved to Alexandria, they bought a home at the north end of Lake Carlos, and lived there long before the neighboring homes became year around residences. She absolutely loved to spend her time floating in the lake. Linnea also enjoyed feeding the birds and had a green thumb; she kept flower and vegetable gardens. Linnea liked to crochet and do machine knitting. She was a member of a knitting club.

Linnea also became a pioneer in the field of cochlear implants; she was one of the first implant recipients in the mid 1980’s. This technology restored some of her ability to interpret sound.

On Wednesday, August 8, 2018, Linnea died at the age of ninety-one years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Glade Phelps, and two sisters; Florence Shires and Frances Hultquist. Linnea is survived by her three children; Daryll Phelps and wife Sandra of Plymouth, MN, Cherilee Brockopp and husband, Merle, of Sartell, MN and Rocqulyn Gustafson and husband, Michael, of Lake Carlos, five grandchildren; Christy Vierzba, Kevynn Phelps, Melinda Tamm, Riley Gustafson and Tanner Gustafson, and four great grandchildren; Jack Vierzba, Gage Vierzba, Connor Tamm and Colton Tamm.

A funeral service will be held 1 PM, Sunday, August 12, 2018, at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Reverend Marilee Bergerson will officiate. Interment will follow in the Carlos Prairie Cemetery near Carlos, MN. Visitation will be from 12 Noon to 1 PM Sunday at the funeral home.

Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral of Alexandria.