Elsie Marie Fagerholm

ROCHESTER:Elsie Marie Skaar was born on April 5, 1922 on the family farm north of Hayward, MN, one of four siblings, to Peder J. and Elsie (Lunde) Skaar.She died Thursday, September 5, 2013 at the Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth in Rochester.Elsie was baptized and confirmed in the Hayward Lutheran Church.She attended country school in the Hayward area and graduated from Albert Lea High School with the class of 1940. Elsie was active in the Hayward 4-H and brought projects to the Freeborn County Fair and Minnesota State Fair where she won the Grand Championship with her heifer. Following High School, Elsie attended the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1945.During their college years, Elsie and her twin sister, Margie, worked summers at Glacier National Park. She married Robert K. Fagerholm on June 13, 1947 in Hayward MN.While raising a family they farmed near Wykoff, ultimately moving to Rochester, MN in 1962.She returned to a career, working as the lead technician in an internationally known research laboratory at the Mayo Clinic, ultimately retiring in 1992. Following retirement, she nurtured her legacy of family and crafted a multigenerational legacy of quilts. She also lovingly cared for her husband for eleven years at home following a disabling stroke. Survivors include her husband, Robert K. Fagerholm of Rochester, MN; three sons, Peder Fagerholm of Kennesaw, GA, Thomas (Marie) Fagerholm of Edmonds, WA and Robert J. (Sandy) Fagerholm of Stewartville, MN; two daughters, Margaret Fagerholm (Mark Ehrlich) of Madison, WI and Katherine (Dennis) Burbank of Kasson, MN; eleven grandchildren, seven great great grandchildren, and one sister, Solveig Sorenson of Geneva, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, and one brother and one sister. Private Memorial Services will be held. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN55901(507)289-3600 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com