Lillian Ness, of Dawson, died Tuesday afternoon, July 16, 2013, at the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dawson at the age of 90.
Memorial service was held on Saturday, July 20, 2013, at 11:00 AM, at the Dawson Covenant Church in rural Dawson with Pastor Erik Carlson officiating: scripture lessons were Psalm 121, and Romans 8; a personal remembrance was given by Dan Fondell; Dean Pearson, accompanied on the piano by daughter, Kersti Pearson sang “The Holy City” and Dean, accompanied by wife, Joyce sang “The King Is Coming”; organist, Ardyce Thompson accompanied the singing of “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”, “To God Be The Glory”, “Children of the Heavenly Father” and the “Hallelujah Chorus”; urn bearers were her nieces and nephews; and interment was in the church cemetery.
Visitation was on Friday, July 19, from 5-7 PM, at the Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson.
Lillian “Toots” Martha (Franklin) Ness was born October 23, 1922, the sixth of ten children, to Rev. Nathaniel and Lillian J. (Peterson) Franklin in Willmar, MN.
Her education included AA North Park College, Chicago IL; BA (History) University of Minnesota 1947; BS (Education) University of Minnesota Morris 1965. Lillian taught rural school from 1947-1950 in District 47 and District 37 in Yellow Medicine County.
On March 31, 1950, she married Myron Ness, and they had two daughters: Kristine and Carol. They lived for nearly 63 years on the farmstead in rural Dawson, and the last several months at the Johnson Memorial Care Center in Dawson.
Lillian began working in February of 1966, at the Yellow Medicine County Department of Social Services and retired in 1987, after 20 + years of helping foster families and foster children, and later, seniors and handicapped individuals. She worked part-time for Lac qui Parle County from 1987 to 1990 as a Guardian ad Litem. Her advice was sought informally as well, by adults and youth alike.
Toots was active at the Dawson Covenant Church, as an adult Bible teacher, Sunday School superintendent, district chairwoman for Covenant Women, and was active in establishing the Lucia Fest. She loved camping with Myron and the girls, with siblings and siblings-in-law, and later with their Good Sam Charter Chapter group. She and Myron traveled extensively, visiting Alaska repeatedly, Europe five times (20+ countries), China, and the length and breadth of North America, from Churchill on Hudson Bay, to the Bering Straits, to Mexico, including every Canadian province and every State.
Lillian was beloved for the sparkling smile in her eyes, her wit and wisdom, her sense of humor, and her unflagging hospitality. She wrote countless skits and poems for showers and parties, and delivered her lines with panache and a big grin. She hosted camping groups, planned family reunions, and prepared many candlelight Christmas breakfasts as fundraiser events for the church. We are richer for her presence among us.
Lillian died on Tuesday afternoon, July 16, 2013, at the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dawson at the age of 90.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings: Paul Herbert (died in infancy), Viola (Theorell), Robert, Dorothy (Easterling), Daniel, Theodore and John Franklin.
She is survived by her husband, Myron; two daughters and their spouses: Kris (Mike) Cosentino, now of rural Dawson, and Carol (Fritz) Skinner, of Gothenburg, NE; her sisters: Gertrude (Ralph) Fondell and Ann (Guido) Kauls; 40 nieces and nephews, and hundreds of friends.
Blessed be her memory.