Emily Lodine Overgaard, 64, Luverne, died Monday, June 17, 2019, at the Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
A memorial service was Thursday, June 20, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial followed at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Emily Lodine was born to Robert and Betty (Dick) Lodine on March 24, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois. She was baptized in 1955 and received her confirmation in 1969, both at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Evanston, Illinois. Emily grew up in Evanston and graduated from high school in 1972. She attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, graduating magna cum laude in 1976 with a Bachelor of Music degree in music theory.
Emily performed as a mezzo soprano with many of the world’s finest conductors of symphonies and orchestras throughout the United States. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in Handel’s “Messiah.” She received acclaim for her work with a Pulitzer Prize-nominated project. She was a member of a vocal ensemble nominated for and awarded a Grammy. She performed Christmas at the Cathedral with the South Dakota Symphony and also sang with the vocal group Conspirare. Her artistry, silvery voice and mastery of all styles placed her in great demand for concert engagements. Emily especially loved playing Julia Child in Lee Hoiby’s short operetta, “Bon Appetit.”
In 1992 Emily was on a plane to London and seated next to her future husband, a farmer from a small town in Minnesota. On June 22, 1996, Emily married Gary Overgaard at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. They made their home on a farm north of Magnolia. Emily taught classes as an adjunct music professor at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa; Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall; and Luverne Street Music in Luverne. In 2014 Emily was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
Emily was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Luverne. She studied and became an ordained rural Episcopal priest. She enjoyed traveling, being on the farm, being with people and entertaining.
Emily is survived by her husband, Gary, of Magnolia; her brother, James “Philip” (Cathryn “Cay”) Lodine of Stow, Massachusetts; and many relatives, friends and musical enthusiasts.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Martha Lodine.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Luverne Street Music (205 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne MN 56156) or Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter (4550 West 77th Street, Suite 200, Edina, MN 55435).
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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