Helen Kvale

Helen Armin Peterson Kvale, a resident of Fergus Falls, passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at the PioneerCare Center in Fergus Falls at the age of 97. She was born June 7, 1914, on the home farm in Buse Township of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, the daughter of Andrew and Emma (Setterlund) Peterson. She was married to Alvin Kvale of Palisade, Minnesota on October 19, 1946. She was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church. Helen was a housewife and mother until the loss of her husband, Alvin. She attended classes at Moorhead State Technical College and Staples Vocational School. She was an excellent cook and worked at Pioneer Home and Lake Region Hospital for many years. We are very proud of her. She witnessed many events in her life including surviving the 1919 Fergus Falls cyclone, and being only 50 miles away from Mount St. Helens when the volcano erupted in 1980, and had many stories to tell. She traveled by horse and wagon across Montana and rode on jet planes. She loved to travel. She also enjoyed playing guitar and singing, and taught her daughters how to play as well. Helen was a very special person. Her sense of humor and quick wit endeared her to everyone. She sewed, did needle work and embroidery. She loved to entertain and play games, which she usually won. She was a great storyteller and loved to laugh. Preceding her in death were her husband, Alvin, who passed away in 1965; two sisters: Edna Steiner and Esther Zill; and two brothers, Raymond Peterson and Roy Riley. Survivors include her two daughters: Anita Baglien of Fergus Falls, and Alvina Grundei of Lake Stevens, WA; two grandchildren: Kristine (Kevin) Norton of Lake Stevens, WA, and Josh (Lacy) Grundei of Vancouver, WA; three great-grandchildren: Anders, Annika, and Aidan Norton; two brothers: Arthur (Laverne) Peterson of Fergus Falls, and Kenneth (Alice) Peterson of Battle Lake; special friends Carol and Darlene Rian of Minneapolis; and several nieces and nephews. Helen loved her Lord, family, and friends, and was much loved by them. We will all miss her. Visitation: 5 to 7 Tuesday at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Service: 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverend Phil Tobin and Chaplain Harry Olson Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls Arrangements: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls