Lona M. Blakestad Funeral Held Our Savior's
Lona M. Blakestad
Funeral Held
Our Savior's
Funeral services for Mrs. Lona M. Blakestad, 93, were held at Our Savior's Lutheran church in Lyle, Tuesday, February 10 with the Rev. M. Johnson officiating.
Mrs. Blakestad died at the Good Samaritan Center, St. Ansgar, February 7 where she had been a resident for three years.
Lona Williams was born March 19, 1876 on the family farm near Bode, the eldest daughter of Tieman and Bergit Williams. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith to which she remained true throughout her life. Her education was in the country school near her home and she later attended the Albert Lea Seminary where she prepared for teaching. She spent several years teaching in rural schools in the area near her residence.
Lona was united in marriage in Bode May 26, 1897 to Oliver G. Blakestad of Otranto. They established their home in Lyle in 1902 where Mr. Blakestad was engaged in the furniture & undertaking business until his health failed in 1944. He died in July, 1946.
Mrs. Blakestad and her husband were charter members of Our Savior's church, Lyle, and she was active in the church organizations. She was a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary at Lyle.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Oliver, her parents and one brother and three sisters.
Surviving Mrs. Blakestad are her eight children: Raymond Donavon Blakestad, Albert Lea; Mrs. Mable Reistad, Hackensack, N. J.; Mrs. Luther (Myrtle) Tollefson, Mrs. L.R. (Esther) Falk, Louis G. Blakestad, St. Ansgar; Mrs. H.A. (Lenore) Meyers, Stockton, Calif.; Mrs. G.V. (Loreen) Greiner, Winnibago, Minn.; Mrs. Marion (Lona) Schmidt, Faribault, Minn,; three sisters, Mrs. Beatrice Higby, Long Beach, Calif.; Mrs. R.A. Anderson, Lyle; Mrs. Scott Rouse, Pocatello, Idaho; 13 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren, several nieces & nephews; many relatives and friends.
Burial was in Pleasant Hill cemetery, Mona, with Rev. Johnson in charge of committal services.