Erskine – Armilla Lundeen, 79, of Erskine, passed away peacefully Saturday, Oct. 3, 2014 at Essentia Hospital, Fosston, with her family by her side.
Funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014 at Oak Park Lutheran Church, rural Oklee, with Pastor Joseph Abrahamson officiating. Casket bearers include her grandsons and grandsons-in-law. At Armilla’s request, burial will precede her funeral service at Ebenezer Cemetery, rural Plummer, at 2:30 p.m.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held from 3 to 4 p.m. on Thursday at the church.
Armilla Mae Pugh was born Aug. 7, 1935 at Bemidji, the daughter of Frank and Mary Elizabeth (Poppenberg) Pugh. She was Baptized at St. Phillips Catholic Church, Bemidji, and Confirmed at Oak Park Lutheran Church, Oklee, in February 1959.
Armilla grew up in Itasca State Park where her father was the Forest Ranger. She attended Itasca rural school, Bagley High School and East Grand Forks Normal School for teacher’s training.
She worked as a relief girl for the Itasca Park Attendants, taught at Deer Park School, rural Trail, from 1954-56 and at Pine Center School, Zerkel, MN, 1956-58, and at Inter County, Oklee, and sewing finisher at ODC, Thief River Falls. She also was a farm wife and homemaker.
She grew up in a special place. As a young girl, she hiked and swam and traveled many of the remote trails in the park. Summers were especially fun, and so were the afternoons of checking license plates, noting where visitors of the park came from.
On Dec. 21, 1957, Armilla was united in marriage to Merle Lundeen at Oak Park Lutheran Church by Reverend W. H. Peterson. She lived and farmed in Deer Park Township, raising her family of seven children with Merle until retiring in 1996. She then lived in Crookston, Minneapolis, Thief River Falls, and Erskine. While on the farm, she gardened, canned, baked and worked on the farm through every season. Merle died December 2003.
Armilla was a Vacation Bible School teacher, Sunday School teacher and leader, along with being a Released Time teacher for 20 years. She was a 4-H Leader and a charter member of the Oklee and Highlanding TOPS Club, Goodridge Bit & Bridle Club, Pennington County NFO and Farmers Union. She enjoyed reading, knitting, crocheting and sewing—most always clothing for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by children: Gayle (Greg) Hilgeman, Timothy (Candyce) Lundeen, Anthony Lundeen, Barbara Lundeen, Perry (Sally) Lundeen, Jeffrey Lundeen and Dale (Sandra) Lundeen; 31 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sisters, Betty (Lowell) Hagan, Bagley, and Lucy (LeRoy) Wilkinson, Henderson, Nev.; brother and sister-in-law, Erling (Melba) Lundeen of Spicer; 13 nieces, nephews and numerous other cousins and relatives.
She was preceded in death by husband Merle and her parents, Frank and Mary Elizabeth Pugh and Emil and Luella Lundeen.
Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com.