Thief River Falls – Lucille Sylvester, of Thief River Falls, passed away peacefully with her family by her side, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND, on Monday, September 25, 2023 at the age of 87.
Lucille Charlotte Johnson was born on January 23, 1936, in Madison, SD. Lucille (Lucy) was adopted at the age of 6 days by Raymond and Minnie Johnson. The family lived on a small farm outside Adrian. Lucy attended school in Adrian, where she graduated from high school in 1954.
Lucy loved music. She would perform with her dad, playing piano while he sang. She also was a member of the choir in high school.
She attended Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD, for one year before transferring to Augsburg University in Minneapolis, majoring in Education for Home Economics, with a minor in music. Lucy was a member of the Augsburg Choir where they had the opportunity to sing at the White House in front of President Eisenhower in January of 1958.
As a child growing up on a farm, Lucy learned how to hunt and fish, two hobbies that she thoroughly enjoyed her entire life. She was also active in 4-H where she showed brown Swiss cows, winning grand champion for showmanship, which lead her to yearly trips to the state fair, in Minneapolis. Lucy was an amazing teacher of cooking, canning, sewing, and life skills to anyone who would listen. There was no challenge that was too great for her.
In 1956, Lucy Johnson met William (Bill) Sylvester and the couple wed in December of 1957, in the Lutheran Church in Adrian. The couple made their home in Montgomery, until 1960, when they moved to Bloomington, where Lucy began her teaching career. Over the next six years, Bill and Lucy had three children, Laural, Kenneth, and Wanda. In 1966, the couple moved their family to the Sylvester Farm in rural Thief River Falls, and Lucy continued to teach Home Economics in the Crookston School District. In 1972 Lucy exchanged teaching for full-time dairy farming with Bill.
Lucy was known by the community as the Assessor of Bray Township for many years, a sales agent for hail insurance, and a volunteer for Black River Lutheran Church.
After retirement in 2000, Bill and Lucy purchased a winter home in Split Rail RV Park in Mission, TX. Lucy was very active in the park, by organizing and directing the choir, serving her secret hot fudge during weekly ice cream socials, and enjoying her time with friends and family. In 2007, Bill and Lucy were elected King and Queen of the Association.
Lucy is preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Helen Sylvester; brother-in-law, Mike Torkelson; brother-in-law, Randy Synan; sister-in-law, Enid Sylvester; sister-in-law, Judith Kieffer; and niece, Amy Aadland.
Lucy is survived by her three children, Laural (Tim) McGauvran, Kenneth (Pegijo Putz) Sylvester, and Wanda (Jon) Braton; nine grandchildren, Sara (Robert) Conklin, Linsey McGauvran, Kassandra McGauvran, Eric Sylvester, Jackie (Joe) Mangelsdorf, Kelsie (Zac) Robinson, Amber (Bill) Briss, Adam Garry and Alex Garry; 2 step-grandsons, Jon (Candy) Braton Jr, Travis Braton; and 11 great grandchildren and five step great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, JoAnn Torkelson, Patricia Synan, and Penny (Blaine) Aadland; brother-in-law, John (Jack) Sylvester; and many loving nieces and nephews.
A visitation in honor of Lucille will be held from 1–3 p.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Interment will be held at a later date at Black River Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural St. Hilaire.
God rest her soul.
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