Eveleth B. Ulven

Eveleth Ulven, known affectionately as Grandma Cookie, passed away peacefully at the age of 101 (and a half) the evening of January 16^th at Lilac Homes in Dilworth, MN.

Eveleth was born July 8, 1919, to Oscar and Borghild (Nelson) Anderson in Spring Prairie Township, Minnesota, and was the second of six children. She attended Norwegian school in a one-room school house through the 8th grade. Eveleth started earning her first wages at age 13 by helping deliver and care for newborn babies in the surrounding area as well as baking bread. Her incredible work ethic served her well as she spent the next several years working in Fargo sewing duffle bags for the war effort during WWII and working odds and ends jobs. Eveleth met Rueben Ulven on a chilly October day at his family farm. After three years of courting, they were married October 20^th, 1945. She moved onto the Ulven farm north of Dale, MN and over the next 7 years, she gave birth to her three children, Juel (Punky), Karen, and Rodney. She was an incredibly hard working woman who juggled farm duties with raising her children. After Rueben’s passing in 1963, she continued to show her resilience by working extra jobs necessary to keep a 250-acre farm in rural Minnesota going while being a single mother. Eveleth moved to Moorhead, MN, in 1972 where she eventually bought her house and lived for over 35 years.

Eveleth was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt to many. She loved to bake and it was her famous sugar and rainbow cookies that earned her the name Grandma Cookie. When she wasn’t baking, she enjoyed watching the birds, crocheting, and talking with her family and friends over cookies and coffee. She was a fierce card player and bingo fanatic who, even in her final days, was dreaming about winning big at the Teamsters.

She is survived by her children, Juel (Jessi Laffey) of Aurora, IL, Karen of Richmond, IL, and Rodney (Jean) of Hawley, MN; her grandchildren, Zach (Paige) Ulven of Newark, IL, Marie (Mike) Lowe of Morrison, CO, Rachel (Shane) Winkler of Fargo, ND, John (Viri) Ulven of Elburn, IL, and Jill Ulven (Tyler Olson) of Moorhead, MN; great grandchildren Violet, Killian, Weston, Adeline (AJ), and Baby Winkler; and sisters, Valborg Schmieg of Dilworth, MN, and Jeannine (Frank) Zebley of Dilworth, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Alida and Sylvia, and brother Orvis.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 am, Friday January 22^nd  at Hawley Lutheran Church. A special thank you to the wonderful staff at Lilac Homes and Hospice who provided great care to Grandma Cookie at the end of her life.