Yvonne Eklund

Yvonne Celeste (Olsen) Eklund, born March 15, 1916 in St. James Minnesota, passed away in her hometown on January 27, 2014. She was 97. She was twice happily married - first to Tinus Olsen in 1935, with whom she had four sons: Duane Olsen, the late Andrew Olsen, Ronald and Richard Olsen. The pair was married 28 years before Yvonne became a widow. She wed Alton Eklund in 1965 and they enjoyed 42 years of marriage and many adventures before his death in 2008. The daughter of the late Marie and Fred Herrlie, Yvonne was a St. James High School graduate. Born into the Augustana Lutheran Church, she later became a member of the East Sveadahl Lutheran Church with her husband Alton. She was a 50-year member of the Eastern Star and was twice named Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star. She worked for a time with the South Central Electric company and co-owned and operated farms with both of her husbands near St. James. After her marriage in 1965 to Alton, a veteran of World War II, she became active in the American Legion Auxiliary and was a past president of the American Legion Auxiliary. The couple split their time together between homes in St. James and in Cordes Lakes, Arizona where both actively supported the volunteer fire department. She was tough - outliving two husbands, a bout with cancer and strokes. And she was a lucky woman, who enjoyed cards, fishing and gambling and once won a $10,000 prize in the Arizona Lottery. She was masterful at crochet, making countless afghans and other handicrafts even after becoming blind and donated much of her handiwork to charity. Above all, she loved her family and felt proud to live long enough to see the birth of her first great-great grandchild - Brody Michael Moore. She is survived by three of her four sons and their wives: Duane and Carolyn Olsen of Lincoln Nebraska; Ronald and Connie Olsen, of Lamberton, Minnesota and Richard and Louise Olsen, of St. James, Minnesota; the late Andrew Olsen of Mesa, Arizona, preceded her in death. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Rita Olsen Collom and Corey Olsen; Lise Olsen and Mary Olsen Baker; Jodi Malmgren, Rhonda Luebbers, Danny Madden, Jason, Lisa and Jared Trapp; Nathan Ocean; Josh Altenburg, Jennifer LaMarr and Katie Steffl; more than a dozen great grandchildren and one great great grandson. Her elder brothers, Clifford and Wilbur Herrlie and sister Dorothy Olson (Mrs. Carl) preceded her in death. Visitation 10:00 am - 11:00 am Tuesday, February 4, 2014 East Sveadahl Lutheran Church 30187 710th Avenue Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 11:00 am Tuesday, February 4, 2014 East Sveadahl Lutheran Church 30247 710th Ave Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information Mt. Hope Cemetery, St. James S. CR 27 St. James, Minnesota, United States