Emma Jean Blomgren, age 82, of Ellsworth, Minnesota, died Thursday, April 1, 2021, at her home in Ellsworth.
Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne, with Msgr. Gerald Kosse celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Elkton, South Dakota.
A time of visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church on Wednesday morning.
Sept 7, 1938, on a farm close to Elkton, I was born into the Clarence and Margaret (Houselog) Blomgren family. I joined my sister, Audrey and my big brother, Clarence Jr. When I was old enough to attend school, I went to Elkton Public School, graduating high school in 1956 along with 26 other classmates.
After high school I attended General Beadle State Teachers College in Madison, South Dakota and began my teaching career after receiving a 2-year certificate, in Oldham, South Dakota. Along the way of the teaching career I made stops in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Fort Dodge, Iowa, and on to Ellsworth, Minnesota.
When I finished my 4-year degree GBSTC had changed to Dakota State. I furthered my graduate education receiving an MA from USD. I added another 30 graduate hours from Mankato State.
During my younger years, beginning with my job at Oldham, I joined the Locke Electric Women's fast pitch softball team. We had many successful seasons, playing in the larger cities such as St. Paul, Omaha, Sioux City, Fargo, Rapid City. We also were in the Sioux Falls league and usually won the city championship. We had many State Championship trophies to hand to our sponsors, Lloyd and Gladys Locke. They attended as many of our travels as they could and were wonderful examples for all of us. We also played city league basketball for them in Sioux Falls.
After retiring from teaching in Ellsworth, I worked in two supermarket meat departments, one in Worthington, Minnesota, and the other in Luveme. I met many wonderful people as co-workers and customers at both stores.
I was so fortunate to meet so many wonderful people along my journey friendships formed from childhood lasted until I left this world.
My fiancé, Kenny Anderson Sr., my parents, sister Audrey Lorden, and brother Clarence Jr. all preceded me in death.
I am buried in the cemetery of the church where I was baptized, Our Lady of Good Counsel St. Mary's Cemetery.
My hope is that people who knew me will recall at least one time that I made them laugh out loud.
Arrangements were provided by Jurrens Funeral Home, jurrensfuneralhome.com
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