Lila J. Sillerud, age 86, of Canby, MN, passed away Thursday, February 26, 2026 at Ava’s House Hospice in Sioux Falls, SD. Memorial services will be 11:00 am March 6, 2026 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby, MN with Rev. Levi Bollerud officiating. Burial will be held at a later date. Visitation will be Friday one hour prior to the service at the church. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN is entrusted with the arrangements.
Lila Jane Sillerud was the first-born child to Merlon and Jennie Lagerstedt in New Ulm, Minnesota on October 25, 1939. She grew up as the big sister to five younger siblings on their busy family farm in Gibbon, Minnesota. Lila was active during her school days: participating in choir, singing solos, attending Girls State, plus carving out plenty of time for friends and fun on the weekends. She excelled at sewing and baking, even exhibiting at the Minnesota State Fair through 4-H. Lila seemed in a hurry to strike out on her own, and started college at Mankato State University the summer after graduating from high school. By also going to summer school, she fast-tracked through and graduated in three years with a teaching degree in Home Economics. Her first teaching job was at the high school in Ellendale, Minnesota, where a handsome young Industrial Arts teacher named Cliff Sillerud caught her eye. The two were married in Gibbon on July 29, 1961. Lila OFTEN recounted how her one-year old baby brother “ruined her wedding” when he started crying and had to be taken out of the service. The legend never got old (or did it?). In spite of that, Lila and Cliff enjoyed 56 years of marriage, until he passed away in 2017. Two adorable blonde daughters soon followed, and in 1965, this young family moved into a brand new house in Canby, Minnesota where two more adorable blondies were added to the family. Over the many years, a very special camaraderie was formed with Lila and Cliff’s teacher friends and the Canby community. Lila’s professional life featured many years as a high school Home Ec teacher, teacher of a high school vocational course called Fashion and Apparel, and later as a caregiver to special needs adults at the local REM facility. She also opened a colorful and mod sewing store called Snip’n’Stitch, on Canby’s main street. Outside of work and a houseful of kids, Lila made time for many other activities- she was active at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church as a Sunday School leader, Vacation Bible School coordinator, church council member, soloist, Circle member, and regular worshipper. Book groups, community fund-raising events, AAUW, art classes, Senior College, keeping up with current events, reading every book in the city library, Netflix, shopping, European trips, and gathering with friends also filled her schedule. Lila leaves a legacy of the beautiful items she created. She was the Minnesota Martha Stewart. She learned to sew from her grandmother, and then took it up a notch. Lila sewed impeccably for her family- wedding dresses, men’s suits, winter coats, swim suits, school clothes, home furnishings, quilts, dolls, toys, and upholstery. She also designed, altered and tailored clothing for others in the community, often tackling complicated projects. The meals and baked goods coming from her tiny kitchen were always blue ribbon worthy. Especially notable were meals and treats from her Scandinavian heritage, including the holiday meatball recipe that lives on in infamy. After nearly 60 years at the same address in Canby, Lila moved to Harrisburg, South Dakota to be closer to family. She loved her new patio home, filled with all her favorite things. Health issues began to creep in, and it was handy to be close to doctors and specialists in Sioux Falls. She faced her health challenges with courage and grace. On February 26, 2026, Lila passed away peacefully and surrounded by family, at the age of 86.We will remember Lila as a creative, strong-willed, community-minded, multi-talented, modern woman, who loved nothing more than to be surrounded by her large, loud and loving family. She is already dearly missed. Special thanks to the entire hospice staff at Ava’s House who surrounded Lila with care and compassion during her last weeks. Memorials could be sent to them, in care of their “spit-fire” Lila Sillerud, 1320 W. 17th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104. Memorials could also be sent to her beloved Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 108 N. Haarfager Avenue, Canby, MN 56220.
Lila is survived by a many friends, plus a large cadre of family: daughter Kristin (Al) Rapacz and grandkids Emily, Rachel and Leah, daughter Kayla (Chad) Lubbers and grandkids Jennie, Hannah and Gracie, daughter Karna (Mike) VanBuskirk and grandkids Bjorn (Kirby and great grand-daughter Brynn), Sophia, Kyle and Hunter, and son Erik (Elizabeth) Sillerud and grandkids Marit and Soren. Also surviving are her siblings Eileen (Fred) Knudsen, Gary (Carla) Lagerstedt, Mark Lagerstedt, sister-in-law Carol Lagerstedt, special cousin Carol (Denny) Fuller, plus numerous nieces and nephews. Lila was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Lynn and Jon Lagerstedt, and nephew Paul Knudsen.
