Mildred A. Hvinden

Mildred Adeline Engen Hvinden"Over All Obstacles and On to Success" was the senior class motto for Mildred Hvinden. She lived by the motto waking each morning and swinging her legs from her bed, placing her feet firmly on the floor, and starting each day with a positive attitude. Mildred died January 1, 2010, at Oak Crossing, Harbour Springs, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota after many years of failing health. Mildred Millie was born to Emil Henry Engen and Anna Marie Nottested Engen on June 15, 1911, at Maddock, ND. She was the first born of five children, Orpha, Dallas, Irene and Orlin. The family operated a dairy farm in Maddock, and Millie helped deliver milk in the community. Millie was the last surviving member of her family having a grandmother who lived to age 103 and her mother to age 100. There was a large extended family with her Nottested grandparents having had 13 children. She spoke often of Christmas celebrations at the home of her grandparents where all family members in the area would gather as her grandmother cooked over the old wood stove.A graduate of Maddock High School she loved creative writing and in her junior year wrote the story of her life including stories about her ancestors and family members. The journal story contained pictures of family within the text. The story of her life in its journal form has weathered her 98 years. Millie sang in the Glee Club in high school and loved music. She sang daily for family and caregivers throughout the last stages of her life brightening the days for others. She often had words of wisdom to pass on to others.She met her future husband in Lutheran confirmation class where she was awed at his ability to remember and memorize the lessons each week. Even though she was a great student, she always said she wanted to have more fun with cousins and aunts her age rather than study the lessons. Millie and her husband, Oliver Ollie Hvinden were married on December 26, 1932, and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary prior to his death in 1983. Millie and Ollie resided in several communities including Maddock, Aberdeen, SD, Moorhead, MN, and Fargo, Minot and Bismarck, North Dakota. Their only child, Linda, was born in Bainbridge, Maryland, when Ollie was in the Navy, and Millie followed him to the naval station there.Millie had a variety of work experiences during her lifetime including catering for Fargo Families; working as Assistant Manager for two Fanny Farmer Candy Stores in Minot and Bismarck; and in sales in gifts and china at Bismarck Herberger's Department Store. For her the most memorable work experience was working as an assistant for a dentist and a doctor in Maddock, ND. She dreamed to be a nurse.After Ollie's retirement, Millie traveled with Ollie in his volunteer work for AARP where they traveled to several states and to Washington, DC. One of her fondest memories was meeting the leaders of the Gray Panther movement advocating for rights and programs of the elderly. In addition they met with legislators and advocated for better programs and services. She served as secretary for AARP in Bismarck, ND.As a young mother she enjoyed visiting with neighbors, was part of a neighborhood card and birthday clubs. She loved to entertain family and friends and decorating for each occasion. A favorite story was her experience of seeing and hearing Eleanor Roosevelt speak during one of Mrs. Roosevelt's trips to Fargo. Millie loved children and lived between a grade school and a junior high in Bismarck. Children would stop to visit with her as she worked in the yard. Neighbor children would come to sit and visit with her on her front porch asking questions about how very old she was and why she had so many wrinkles.Millie moved from Bismarck, ND, to Hawley Senior Living in November 1999. Hawley Senior Living became her home where she loved to attend Hymn sing, church, music programs and BINGO. She enjoyed the frequent programs with children from the Hawley schools. The staff of Hawley Senior Living provided loving care for the many years she resided at the Center. On December 1, 2009, she moved to Oaks Crossing of St. Mary's Innovis Health Care in Detroit Lakes. She received loving care from the staff of Harbor Springs and of Hospice of the Red River Valley. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Don Schell, Detroit Lakes, MN; her grandsons, Jay, Grand Forks, ND and Jon Amy, Shoreview, MN; two great grandchildren, Corrina Angeline and Casey Jay Schell, Shoreview. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews residing across the United States.