Lillie Lundberg

Lillie (Ness) Lundberg, of Fergus Falls, met her Savior on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, at 101 and ½ years young. She passed away at the Broen Home in Fergus Falls. Lillie was born on December 5, 1910, to Henny Birgitta Karlsen Ness and Gerhardt Lorentz Magnussen Ness in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Bay Ridge High School in June of 1927 and started her career in July at Irving Trust Company in New York City as a bank teller. She married Carl John Lundberg, a seaman with Tidewater Oil Company, on January 19, 1935. Harold Martin and Carol Joan were born within the next five years. However, World War II invaded their lives. Carl’s ship (an oil tanker) was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of New Orleans, LA, in May of 1942. She was widowed and remained so till her death. Lillie was called back to her position at the Irving Trust Company and remained there till her retirement in 1975 working for I.T.C. for 41 years. Also during those years Lillie belonged to Zion Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, NY. There she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Preschool Superintendent, (as well as having been a pupil herself), Girl Scout Cookie Chairman, and often found herself as a driver for the Luther League. As Girl Scout Cookie Chairman, she would pick up cookies that were ordered by our troops of Zion (at one time we had two G.S. Troops), then each Girl Scout would deliver them to their customers. She must have maintained that “job” for at least 15 years. After Lillie retired, a home was built for her at her summer place in Norseville, Griggstown, New Jersey. Lillie moved there in 1982, and busied herself with Bunker Hill Lutheran Brethren Church, of which she became a member. She was secretary of the ladies group, and sent birthday cards to all the missionaries and their children for many years. Of course, a card wasn’t enough, she had to write each of them notes to tell them what the weather was like or the latest happenings of the community or church functions. She also got together with other women and crocheted or knitted squares which were then put together into afghans for the needy and homeless people. In 2009 Lillie moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota (against her will, as she knew she had to give up her driving license which she had just renewed at age 97, and needed to be renewed when she was 100 in New Jersey!) to her daughter, Carol’s. And two years later she moved to her own apartment in the Mill Street Residence. While living in Fergus, she made many new friends, both at Bethel Lutheran Church and the Mill Street Residence. At Mill Street she played Bingo every chance she got, loving to socialize. Preceding her into God’s presence were her parents, a younger brother, George Henry Ness, her husband, Carl John, and her son, Harold Martin (in 1995). She is survived by a daughter, Carol (Russ) Wester of Fergus Falls; daughter-in-law, Lynn Lundberg of Decatur, AL; grandchildren: Kristen Joy Lundberg, Kari Louise (Preston) Hartzell, Heidi Lynn (Jason) Lang, and Douglas Carl (Abigail) Wester; six ½ great-grandchildren: Rebekah L. Lang, Douglas P. Lang, Catherine J. Lang, Briana H. Lang, Jonathan P. Hartzell, and Nora G. Wester; a brother, Peder Martin Ness; a sister-in-law, Trudy Lundberg Wegelin; and many nieces and nephews. Blessed be the many years of memories we have of our Sister, Mom, Grandma, “G.G.”, Tante, Aunt, and FRIEND. Memorials are preferred to World Missions c/o Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the funeral home Memorial Service: 1 p.m. Sunday, August 5, 2012, at the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverends Ed Monson, Chuck Ewan, and Jason Lang Interment: Griggstown Cemetery, Griggstown, New Jersey Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, MN, is in charge of the arrangements.