Elaine M. Lofgren

Elaine M. Lofgren, 90, of Hitterdal, MN, died Friday, June 17, 2016 at Viking Manor Nursing Home, in Ulen, MN.

Elaine Mary Severson was born December 16, 1925, in Barnesville, MN, to Knute and Mary Griffin Severson. She attended Assumption Catholic School in Barnesville through the 8th grade and graduated from Barnesville High School in 1944. On May 27, 1945 she married Ralph Lofgren at Assumption Catholic Church in Barnesville. They moved to a farm in Hitterdal where together they raised their family of 8 children. While primarily a homemaker, Elaine also held several jobs outside the home. She was a seamstress at the Bridal Shop and Buttrey’s in Fargo, a bookkeeper for the Hawley Creamery, a clerk at the Hitterdal grocery store and she also reported the Highland Grove news for the Hawley Herald.

In 1987 Elaine and Ralph started spending their winters in Mesa, Arizona, where they enjoyed the next 20 years together with many friends. Ralph passed away on August 15, 1995. Having made many life-long friends in Mesa, Elaine continued to spend her winters there until 2007.

Elaine had numerous wonderful and creative talents. Many hours were spent in the kitchen baking wonderful homemade treats for her family and she was a talented seamstress and quilter. Every child and grandchild was blessed to receive a handmade quilt from Elaine. When she was younger, Elaine could roller skate and ice skate wonderfully. She wrote beautiful poetry over the years, and also a book of family memories titled “Listen, My Children.”

Elaine is survived by her children, Connie Bruggeman, Marvin Karen Lofgren, Pat Kay Fisher, Ron Peggy Lofgren, Becky Blaine Elkins, Kim Teresa Lofgren, Tammy Pollock and Scott Roxanne Lofgren; her sister, Joyce Gilbertson; 23 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 2 brothers and 9 sisters.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley.