Mildred O. Blom, formerly of Milan, died Sunday, February 21, 2016 at Baptist Healthcare Hospital in Louisville, KY at the age of 91.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 26, 2016 at 10:30 AM at Kviteseid Lutheran Church in Milan. Rev. Kristine Isder will officiate and interment will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 25 from 5-7:00 PM at the Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. There will be visitation at the church for one hour before the service on Friday.
Mildred Orlene Blom was born on March 7, 1924 in Big Bend Township of Chippewa County, MN to Ole and Johannah (Aarseth) Thompson. She was baptized and confirmed at the Big Bend Lutheran Church. She attended Milan High School in Milan, MN. After high school she was a telephone operator in Minneapolis and a clerk at the bakery in Montevideo until she was united in marriage to Ingman “Clifton” Blom on September 15, 1946 at Big Bend Lutheran Church. They owned a farm in Chippewa County where they farmed corn, soybeans, and early in their farming career raised chickens, pigs, and sheep. Her flower and vegetable gardens were beautiful and abundant. She loved her gardens which she always said, kept her fit. After her children were older, she worked at J.C. Penny in Montevideo, MN for over 19 years. She lived on their farm in Chippewa County until 2008 then moved to Louisville, KY to an assisted living residence close to her daughter, Nancy.
Mildred was very active in many church activities, including serving as WLCA President, Vice President and Secretary at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Sunday School Teacher for over 20 years. She also served as Chairman of the Immanuel and Kviteseid Circles which supported the many activities of those churches. She sewed over 100 quilts that she donated to the missions for the less fortunate. Many times she would remind us of the importance of giving to the community, whether that was through church or other community involvement.
She was an active member of the Chippewa County Homemakers Group for 54 years and served on that Board three times during her tenure with the group. She was also very active with her children in 4H and worked during the Chippewa County Fair every summer. She loved sewing and other crafts including knitting afghans, klokkerstring needlepoint, and making stuffed animals which she made for family and friends, even selling many through the Milan Arv Hus.
One of her favorite activities was the once a month “Milan/Monte Ladies Club” that she shared with close friends. They often told stories, laughed for hours and helped each other navigate life’s milestones. She will always be remembered for her quick wit and sense of humor, not only by her friends but her family.
Mildred’s husband, Clifton, served in the military in World War II so she was also involved in veteran groups. She was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion Auxiliary.
After Mildred and Clifton retired, they purchased a cabin on Wall Lake outside of Fergus Falls, MN where they shared many fun days sitting by the lake watching the loons that lived on the lake. They went to the local auctions, always coming back with at least a box or two of fun items to add to their collections.
To those she leaves behind, we will remember her generosity to her community, the unyielding love she had for the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren she leaves behind and to the many nephews and nieces that loved her dearly.
She is survived by two children: Nancy and husband Dave Jordahl of Louisville, KY and Jodi Blom and husband Steve Nash of Los Gatos, CA, and her daughter-in-law Colleen Blom; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; Chad and wife Erin Jordahl and their children, Tess and Reece of Walnut Creek, CA, Wade and wife Shannon Jordahl and their children Duncan and Coen of Louisville, KY, Travis and wife Julie Blom and their son, Alan Joel (AJ) of Louisville,KY, Kelsey and husband Aron Goraczkowski of Minnesota, and Kayla Blom of Chicago, Illinois and Jessica Blom of Lexington, VI. She has one remaining sibling, Arnold Thompson and a sister-in-law, Patricia Blom.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Clifton in October 1994 and her son, Alan, in August 1999, her parents, and three brothers: Rudolph, Thorfin and Henry; and three sisters, Ruby Torgerson. Elenora Jorgenson and Judell Kolstad.
The family suggests the memorial gifts be made to Kvietseid Lutheran Church in Milan, MN in her honor.