The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

Gudrun Foss, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, at Broen Home in Fergus Falls.

Gudrun Jonette Foss was born on Feb. 10, 1922, in Stony Brook Township to Oluf and Kjersti (Sund) Foss. She was the fourth child in a family of six siblings who shared a home with their maternal grandparents.

Her parents and grandparents were hospitable people and often opened their home to people who were “down on their luck,” so Gudrun grew up in a very busy home filled with people.

She was baptized and confirmed at Rock Prairie Lutheran Church where she was a life-long member. She attended school at District 30 and at Elbow Lake High School.

Her mother and grandfather died when she was 14 years old, and it became necessary for her and her sister to take over many of the household tasks that had previously been done by their mother.

Gudrun worked on the family farm until her father passed away in 1959. After 1950, when she became an aunt for the first time, her work on the family farm included being the on-call baby sitter for a growing family of nieces and nephews.

She was also very active in church and Sunday school work and in her neighborhood Happy Circle Club.

In 1960, she moved to Seattle, Wash., where she worked as a nanny for a little boy. Later she did domestic service for a family in San Bernardino, Calif. Her last move was to San Diego, Calif., where she worked at Lear-Siegler Accurate Products Division for 18 years. During her first 14 years at Lear-Siegler, Gudrun operated a steam press that molded small rubber parts.

For the four years prior to her retirement she worked as an inspector.

Following her retirement, Gudrun lived in San Diego until 2005, when she returned to Grant County to be closer to family. She lived in Elbow Lake at the East Side Apartments until 2008, when she moved to Alcott Manor in Fergus Falls. She had been a resident of the Broen Home since 2010.

Gudrun is survived by 13 nieces and nephews, Charmayne (Chuck) Sletten, Gordon (Beth) Foss, Sandra (Tom) Hendrickson, Karen (Tim)Schmidt, Joslyn (Bob) Larson, Harriet (Barret) Wicklund, Tom (De-Lores) Foss, Gary Foss, David (Paula) Foss, Betty (Jay) Johnson, Daryl Foss, Steve Foss, and Roger (Tian) Foss; sisters-in-law Barb and Sue; 26 grandnieces and nephews; and 14 great-grandnieces and nephews.

Gudrun was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Louie, Ole, Kermit and Noble; and one sister, Elvira Dahlen.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service

Service: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26, at Rock Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Elbow Lake

Clergy: Revs. Dan Cole and Ken Austin

Burial: Rock Prairie Lutheran Cemetery, rural Elbow Lake

Funeral Home: Erickson-Smith Funeral Home, Elbow Lake

Condolences may be sent online at www.EricksonSmithFH.com