Pamela Tellinghuisen

Pamela Kay Kelly, daughter of Robert and Virginia (Dahl) Kelly was born on November 27th, 1952 at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, Minnesota.  In a grade school essay Pam wrote, “I was born on Thanksgiving day. while everyone else was having turkey, my Mom (Virginia) and Dad (Robert) were having me!  Pam was the third of four kids born to the Kelly family.

The Kelly’s moved to Lamberton from Olivia in 1963, when Virginia bought the Town House Cafe.  All the Kelly kids worked at the cafe and learned important life skills which served them well throughout their lives.

Pam graduated from Lamberton High School in 1970 and graduated from Mankato Beauty School in 1971 as a cosmetologist, a skill she used to bless many.  Pam had a true passion for caring for people and served people throughout her life as a care provider for Dale and others, serving as a First Responder and EMT in Lamberton.

She was united in marriage to Dale Tellinghuisen on May 9, 1975 in the Lamberton Methodist Church.  They welcomed a wonderful daughter, Lisa, born on July 14, 1979 and added to the family when she married Dennis Gustafson.  Through that marriage, Lisa gained several bonus children.  Pam’s family was completed with the birth of her granddaughter, Kaylee who was the light of her life.  Kaylee spent many summers in Lamberton, helping to care for her grandpa, Dale, and learning to swim at the Lamberton Pool.  Pam was dedicated to Kaylee and became Kaylee’s biggest fan when Kaylee joined the swim team.  It was Pam’s greatest wish to see Kaylee turn 18 and graduate from high school.  That was not to be, as Pam passed away in her home on March 1, 2023, just 8 days’ shy of Kaylee’s 18th birthday.

Pam was an avid reader and enjoyed hosting dinner parties with friends, which usually included playing games such as cards, cribbage, and the marble game, Aggravation. She was a regular at the American Legion Club on Monday evenings to play pinochle with friends. One of Pam’s biggest joys was the annual trips to Cabo San Lucas with her sisters and her aunt, Joan. There they enjoyed sitting by the ocean, whale watching, playing various games, cooking and learning to make various Mexican dishes & beverages.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Dale, brother Bobby, and parents Bob and Virginia.  There were also a great grandpa and grandma, several aunts and uncles and cousins that preceded her.  She leaves to cherish her memory to her loving daughter, Lisa, son-in-law Dennis, and granddaughter Kaylee along with their family.  She is also survived by her sister, Lynndene (Bob) Way, sister, Gail (Kirk) Robards, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pam’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the Lamberton Methodist Church.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, and the service will begin at 11:00 am with a lunch to follow.