Anita Tollefson, 87, of Crookston, Minnesota, died peacefully early Sunday morning, May 24, 2009, in the RiverView Care Center in Crookston. Anita was born in Heidesheim, Germany, near Weisbaden, on April 20, 1922, the daughter of Carl and Luise (DeJong) Mindermann. Her parents were employed by a German duchess and Anita’s first years were spent in the Castle on the Island, in the Rhine River. When she was three years old her family came to the United States, moving to Eldred, Minnesota. They later lived on farms in Polk and Norman counties before buying a farm northeast of Crookston in 1931. Anita attended the nearby Polk County District 255 elementary school. On July 19, 1938 she was thrilled to receive her United States Citizenship in a brief ceremony that took place in Duluth, Minnesota. Anita graduated from high school at the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston in 1942. She then moved to San Diego, California, working as a nanny there for two years. In 1944 she returned to Minnesota, and was employed in Duluth at a war plant making shell casings. Two years later she returned to Crookston and worked in the Health Service office of the Northwest School. From 1948 until 1954 she was employed in the Crookston office of Montana-Dakota Utilities. On November 28, 1954 Anita was united in marriage to Bert Hardy Tollefson at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Crookston. Together, Bert and Anita raised two children, Catherine and Scott, and lived and farmed in Scandia township of Polk County, near Beltrami, Minnesota. They moved to Crookston in 1984. Hardly a day passed without Anita calling Scott at the farm to see how things were going. She loved her family dearly and faithfully kept up with the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A highlight of her day was coffee at RBJ’s with friends. Anita and Bert were faithful members of Beltrami United Methodist Church and former members of Wesley United Methodist Church. She will be very sadly missed and lovingly remembered by all who shared in her life.
Anita is survived by her loving husband of fifty-four years, Bert; a daughter and son-in-law, Catherine Andring and Scott Storbakken of Dilworth, MN; a son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Jean Tollefson of Beltrami, MN; seven grandchildren, Richard (Tricia), Marie, Robert, Erica, and Michelle Andring, and Karl and Lauren Tollefson; three great-grandchildren, Leah and Mya Davidson and Taryn Phengdovangdeth; and many other relatives. She was preceded in death by a daughter who died at birth in 1958; and her parents, Carl and Luise. May God bless Anita’s memory.
The funeral service for Anita Tollefson will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, May 27, 2009, in the Beltrami United Methodist Church in Beltrami, Minnesota, with the Rev. Grant Speece, officiating. Visitation will be at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston on Tuesday from 5-7 pm, with a 7 pm prayer service, and at the church for one hour before the funeral. Interment will be in the Oakdale Cemetery in Crookston.
Crookston, Minn. —
