Corella appreciated the simple joys in life: quiet spaces, bread in the freezer and a closet shelf of yarn. It was her family who stretched, enriched and were a huge fulfilling part of her life. Corella’s focus was on family, friends, genealogy, music, and yarn. Corella passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Corella valued her farm life childhood in Hickory Township, Pennington County, and a part of her heart always remained there. Her family’s farm (est 1905) was her paternal grandparents’ homestead, and nearby was her maternal family’s land. Earlier ancestors’ lives began in Norway, before crossing the ocean between the 1860s and the 1880s and making their way to Wisconsin and Minnesota. All of this gifted Corella a heritage that she researched for many years.
Corella Hope was born on July 22, 1944, in Crookston, along with her twin sister, Corrine, to parents Gertrude (Hanson) and Orville Christianson. Her education, worship, and teaching career started at a one-room country school (on their farmland), two rural churches, high school in Goodridge, college in Bemidji and teaching elementary school in Cambridge, Fergus Falls and Isanti.
Corella is survived by husband, Orlan (married 1977); sons, Paul and Ted; granddaughter, Emily; and former daughter-in-law, Amy. Also surviving are her sisters, Corrine (Milton) Haugen and Arlene Pickard; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents; brother-in-law, Stanley; aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
A private memorial service has been held. Inurnment will be at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis.
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