Mildred Karlgaard

Mildred Viola (Skrove) Karlgaard, 95, of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, July 4, 2021 at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Mildred was born May 29, 1926 on the family farm in Bradford Township, Wilkin County MN to Soren and Mathilda (Ulsaker) Skrove. She was baptized and confirmed at the Stiklestad Lutheran Church, rural Doran. Mildred attended the one room Deal school (District #32) in grades one through six, then the Doran School for grades seven and eight and graduated from the Breckenridge High School in 1944. Mildred graduated from Fergus Falls Teachers Training in 1945.

On June 27, 1947, she married Elmer Karlgaard at the Vukku Lutheran Church in Foxhome MN. Together they attended Vukku, farmed, and raised six children. Mildred was a very loving wife and mother and she encouraged lifelong learning and the enjoyment of music.

Mildred had a deep faith and love of Jesus; she taught Sunday school and was superintendent along with VBS teacher and children’s choir leader; and she was a member of the Ladies Aide with numerous repeating offices, church council, music committee and the altar guild. Mildred also shared the position of church organist for 30 years, retiring in 2019.

Mildred taught five years in one room country schools, 2 years in Wilkin County before her marriage and then 3 years in Ottertail County from 1968-1971. Mildred also was a member of the Wilkin County Republican party and served as chairwoman several years.

Mildred enjoyed life to the fullest and loved her family unconditionally. She was happiest spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren or visiting with others over coffee. She played both piano and organ and was a great cook, baker, and gardener. Mildred enjoyed sewing and quilting with Quilts of Valor. She also enjoyed traveling, especially their three trips to Norway visiting relatives and the family farms.

Preceding her in death were her husband of 59 years, Elmer Karlgaard; parents, Soren and Mathilda Skrove; sisters, Sylvia Karlgaard and Margaret Olthoff; half-brother, Marvin Skrove; son, Stanley Karlgaard, and granddaughter, Joy Karlgaard.

Mildred is survived by her children, Don (Cheryl) Karlgaard of East Gull Lake, MN, Glen (Gail) Karlgaard of Apple Valley, MN, Ann (Doug) Etten of Dalton, MN, Shirley (Tom) Brause of Fergus Falls, MN, and Ruth (Loren Uhlig) Karlgaard of Fergus Falls; daughter-in-law, Diane Karlgaard of Fergus Falls; 22 grandchildren, Tammy (Nathan) Knox, Kristopher (Hope) Karlgaard, Joshua (Jennifer) Karlgaard, Jason (Jennifer) Karlgaard, Matthew (Erin) Karlgaard, Luke (Christine) Karlgaard, Dan (Sarah) Karlgaard, Maari (Jacob) Ost, Beth (Byron) Bailey, Jeff (Lisa) Karlgaard, Karlo (Kathy) Etten, Jacki (Dan) Bradow, Erica Etten, Kelly (Karissa) Etten, Rebecca (James) Michael, Rachel (Troy) Schmidt, Karoline (Jacob) Gustafson, Kristin Brause, Bryan (Megan) Kleen, Jonathan (Sarah) Kleen, Stephani (Aaron Berry) Carter, and Jordan Kleen; 43 great-grandchildren and one expected in July, and sister, Wyonne Forde of Chicago, IL.

Visitation: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 8, 2021, at the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, with prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
Service: 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 9, 2021, at Vukku Lutheran Church in Foxhome, MN.
Interment: Vukku Lutheran Cemetery, rural Foxhome, MN

Arrangements are provided by the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.
Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com