Norma Lysne Eklund

Norma (Lysne) Eklund, of rural Elizabeth, died Friday, June 13, 2014, at Lake Region Healthcare, Fergus Falls, after a sudden illness.

Norma was born on November 20, 1936, in Litchfield, MN, to Rev. Carl and Etta Field. She grew up in Gully and Fisher and graduated from high school in Hatton, ND. After attending Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, for a year, she moved to Minneapolis, where she met Richard Lysne over a game of ping-pong at church. It was love at first sight, and they were married for 42 years before Richard’s death in 2000. In 2003, she married Donald Eklund, and together they lived a happy and peaceful life in rural Elizabeth for 10 years.

Social activities and community involvement were important to Norma. She was an active community member in Rothsay, MN, for many years when her kids were growing up, including Hamar Lutheran Church, Aggasiz Study Club, and Oscar Township Board. For over 20 years, Norma was a faithful volunteer at Lake Region Hospital, and in recent years was an active member of Augustana Lutheran Church. One of her greatest joys was singing, and there were very few years in her life when she wasn’t singing in church choir. The absence of her sweet voice, and ability to whistle anything at any time, leaves a deafening silence.

Norma was devoted to her family and friends. She showed unconditional love and generosity to her children and grandchildren, a cheerleader for each and every one of them. Her love was often displayed in the kitchen through the magic of caramel rolls, scalloped potatoes, and hotdish. And nothing made her happier than lunch in town with her friends or breakfast on Sunday mornings after church.

She found great joy in caring for her farmstead with Don, carefully maintaining her century-old house and spending the summer working on her flower gardens and lawn.

She leaves behind many people to honor her memory: her loving husband, Don; her grateful children, Mary (Mark) Johnson, Craig (Karen) Lysne, Mark (Christianne) Lysne, and Anne (Sean) Taylor; her cherished grandchildren, Aaron Lysne, Matthew Small, Kjersti Johnson, Britta Johnson, Ethan Taylor, Sarah Taylor, Lukas Lysne, Trygg Lysne, Bekka Lysne, Jackson Lysne, and Maggie Lysne; her devoted sisters, Mary (Gary) Anderson and Vivian Erickson; and Don’s family: Kathy (Randy) Nordick, Michelle (Dean), Derek and Branden Hatlestad, Mark (Stacy), Madysen, Thea, and Ava Eklund, Steve (Teresa) Eklund, and Eloise Eklund.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Richard Lysne; her parents; and her siblings Carl Field Jr. and Carolyn Ponting.

Memorials may be sent to Augustana Lutheran Church or Lake Region Healthcare Foundation, ICU, both of Fergus Falls.

Visitation: 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 6:30 pm Thursday at the Olson Funeral Home
Service: 11 am Friday, June 20, 2014, at Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Ben Durbin
Interment: Hamar Cemetery, Rothsay
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls