November 28, 2018

Lillian Jellesed

Lillian Harriet Jellesed, Dec. 18, 1921 to Nov. 19, 2018.
Lillian was born to Theodore and Minnie (Grimestad) Swenson at the farm homestead near Charlson, N.D., on Dec.18, 1921. Being premature she was placed in a box of cotton and placed on the warmer of the stove.
Being born of a Norwegian speaking family, at the age of five she was taught English in order for her to attend first grade at the Olson School in Charlson. She attended one high school in Sanish, N.D., and graduated from Ray High School in Ray, N.D., in 1941. She took off a part of a year of school to help care for her grandmother Kari Swenson after her mother passed in 1936. She worked as a telephone operator in Sanish while attending her first year of high school. She stayed with her aunt in Minneapolis while attending college and working. She then went to work in Bismarck at a clothing store.
Lillian was united in marriage to Arnel Jellesed on Nov.18, 1950, in Bismarck, N.D., at the Trinity Lutheran Church. They made their home just two mile north of where she was born. To this union, five children were born: Arne, Jo Ann, Leif, Dee Ann and Lee Ann.
Lillian was baptized and confirmed and a life member of the Keene First Lutheran church. She was a Sunday school teacher and a 4-H leader. She enjoyed her time as a member of the Homemakers Club, Ladies Aide and general aide.
Lillian was a great cook. She would make meals for the harvest workers and the hired men, making sure all were fed large, hot meals. Her buns, fattigmand, and doughnuts were famous in the neighborhood. She loved making Norwegian treats; lefse, lutefisk, rommegraut, and krub. Krumkake and rosettes were always around for holidays. She loved to dance, and taught all her children. Even though Arnel was not a dancer, he did dance with her on their wedding night and on their 40th wedding anniversary. She would tell stories about all the dances she went to with her father, who was a cop for the Charlson Hall dances and other places.
Lillian loved old time music, playing bingo and telling stories about the past. Her favorite saying was, “Nobody would believe me, but…” At the age of 91, she made a quilt for each of her children and a throw blanket for each of her grandchildren. She moved from her country home in Charlson to the Horizon Assisted Living in 2015. She enjoyed having so many of her old neighbors living there also. In September 2017, she moved to the Good Shephard Home.
Her life was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Lillian leaves behind her children, Arne (Audrey) Jellesed, Jo Ann (Donald) Moberg, Leif (Nancy) Jellesed, Dee Ann Jellesed and James Stenseth, and Lee Ann (Dean) Karsky; her grandchildren, Jamie (Meghan) and Jacob Jellesed, Chad (Jamie) Moberg, Amanda (Troy) Richardson, Courtney (Luke) Taylor and Kyle Jellesed, James David Stenseth, Rachel (Dustin) Howie, Ryan (Cassey) Karsky, Derrick Karsky and Jaime Martin, Shaun (Mandy) Rink; great-grandchildren, Aksel, Demi and Odin Jellesed, Jamison Flynn, Alexia, Harper, Oakley and Braxten Moberg, Samantha Richardson, Jett, Piper and Ella Taylor, Jamison Nelson, Aubrey and Grace Karsky, Kaisen and Kelby Howie, Jacob, Brianna and Aria Rink; her brother, Lynn Swenson; sister, Amy (Henry) Wisness; and many nephews, nieces and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnel; her parents, Theodore and Minnie; her stepmother, Laura; sisters, Juliet Hellandsaas and Doris Berg; her sisters-in-law, Pearl Swenson and Anna Knight; and her brothers-in-law, Orville Hellandsaas, Mike Knight and Kenneth Berg.
Funeral service for Lillian were held at 1 p.m., Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, at the Keene First Lutheran Church, Keene, N.D., Pastor Rob Favorite officiated. Interment was at the Good Hope Cemetery under the care of the Fulkerson-Stevenson Funeral Home of Watford City. Visitation was held Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, from 2 to 6 p.m., at Fulkerson Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Watford City, N.D. A Family Service followed at 6 p.m. Remembrances, condolences and pictures may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER