Alfreda Amundson

Alfreda Louise Sophia Margreta Hultgren was born in Nelson Township in Watonwan County on February 21, 1913 to Otto Alfred and Ella (Carlson) Hultgren. She was the oldest of five daughters. She lived on the farm working there until she was 16. She attended School District 37 until the 8th grade. She then did housework until the age of 23. On December 5, 1936 she married John Amundson at the Lutheran Parsonage in Estherville, IA. They settled in St. James and in 1937 their daughter, Sonja, was born. In 1938 they built their first home and sold it in 1942. They remodeled their next home before selling it and then built their third home which Alfreda lived in until 1979. John preceded Alfreda in death in 1966. Following her husbands death she worked at the Middle School for eight years as a cook and at the Community building for eight years also as a cook. For the next 23 years after that she did babysitting jobs in St. James. Alfreda was active in Ladies Aid, Circle, sewing club, Bible study club, and was chair of Ladies Aid and Circle. She enjoyed knitting, embroidery, teaching Sunday school and the trip she took to Norway to visit John's brothers and sisters. Alfreda is survived by one daughter; Sonja Petersen and her husband Harold of Tyler, MN, grandchildren, Kris Petersen, Dave Petersen and Paul Petersen and wife Alyssa; two great-granddaughters, Jade and Shelby; and one sister, Mabel Geiger. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, sisters - Alma Hultgren, Alice Geiger, and Cecelia Sandborg; brothers-in-law, Herman and Jacob Geiger, and Elving Sandborg; two nephews, LaVerne and Michael Geiger; and one niece, Diane Geiger.