Elsa Steen, 92

Elsa Steen, 92, Hallock, Minn., passed away at Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center, Hallock, Tuesday morning, April 4, 2017.
Elsa Adele Johnson was born April 7, 1924 in Cannon Township of Kittson County to Peter and Hannah (Spork) Johnson. She attended Cannon Township School and in 1938 moved with her father to Hallock and graduated from high school there in 1941. She continued her education in Warren, Minn., and when Pearl Harbor was attacked, Elsa and some friends left school in the spring to work at a manufacturing plant in Minneapolis for the war effort.
In December of 1943, Elsa married Lloyd Gunnarson in Minneapolis and settled in Pennsylvania for a short time before Lloyd was sent to France where he was killed serving his country. Elsa returned to Minneapolis to work, but left for Hallock to care for her 80 year old father.
On October 16, 1946, she married Helmer Steen and settled on the family farm in Poppleton Town-ship near Lancaster. The couple retired from farming and returned to Hallock. Helmer passed away in 1998.
Elsa had worked at Minneapolis Manufacturing Company, as a sales person at Donaldson’s in Minne-apolis and at Pomeroy’s in Harrisburg, Penn. She also worked at Kittson Memorial Hospital, the Hallock Nursing Home, was a supervisor for the Green Thumb Program, and as a health aide. She was a member of Lancaster Covenant Church.
She is survived by her sons, Bruce (Michelle) Steen, Lancaster, MN and Barry (Renee) Steen, Moorhead, MN; grandchildren, Jason, Michael, Jennifer, Aaron, Erik, Kari, Kevin, Marshall and Jered; great grandchildren, Reese, Josie, Elsa, Finn, Leif, Maddi, Breanne and Lilly.
Elsa was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Helmer; a son and daughter-in-law, Brad and Terry Steen; 3 sisters, 7 brothers; 2 half brothers and 2 half sisters.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 7, 2017 at 2 p.m. in Lancaster Covenant Church. Interment was in Riverview Memorial Garden Cemetery. Rev. Galen Nordin, presiding; Janelle Hostrup, organist and Galen Nordin, soloist. Casket bearers were Elsa’s grandsons. Visitation was held at Austin Funeral Chapel in Hallock Thursday evening, April 6, 6 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
Austin Funeral Chapel, Hallock, was in charge of the arrangements. http://www.austinfuneralchapel.com/