Amy Caroline Erlandson, 92
Amy Caroline Erlandson, 92, passed sweetly to Heaven February 16, 2016, in her beautiful assisted living apartment at Orlando Lutheran Towers, Orlando, Fla.
Amy was born the seventh of 11 children to August and Sophie Bernstrom in 1923 on a farm east of Lancaster Minn. She and her two sisters and eight brothers grew up in a loving Christian family in a 4-room farm house with no electricty or running water…and an outhouse.
Amy attended elementary school in District 36 Poppleton Township and graduated from Lancaster High School in 1942.
She met the love of her life, Larry (Alden) Erlandson, on the Soo Line train, riding from the Twin Cities to Lake Bronson/Lancaster in 1943. They married in 1947 in Lancaster. Amy spent many wonderful years as the beloved pastor’s wife of the Rev. Dr. L. Alden Erlandson. She was WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church) Woman of the Year, editor/publisher of her family’s annual newsletter “The Bernstrom Buzz” for 30+ years, and foster mom to three foster babies.
In her later years her mission was to minister to nursing home residents at The Commons of the Orlando Lutheran Towers.
She was known for wearing hats, her passion for purple and her famous fudge. But most of all, she loved being Mom to her two daughters and Yaya to her granddaughter.
Grateful for her Gift of Life are her daughters, Mary and Marcia. Grateful for her endearing love are sons-in-law Dirk Carr and Benjamin Witmer. Forever grateful is her only granddaughter, Caitlin Marie, with whom she shares a special bond.
Surviving and celebrating her legacy are her siblings, Kenneth Vincent, Ethel Edsel and Gordon and an earthly chorus of friends and family.
Greeting her as she passed over were husband, Alden; parents, August and Sophie; her siblings, Allen Melvin, Idie, Efford, Waldo and Harold; and a heavenly chorus of friends and family.
A celebration of Amy’s life will be held at the Lancaster Covenant Church, Lancaster, Minn., Thursday, July 28, 2016, 2 p.m.
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord. Worship the Lord with gladness. Come into His presence with singing. Enter His gates with thanksgiving.”
…and this you did, Dear Amy.
