Luella Madsen, was born on April 5, 1926, to Carl and Lillian (Sherman) Andersen on a farm three miles northeast of Arco, Minnesota in Lake Stay Township where she would be a life-long resident. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Arco. Luella attended school in Arco and completed her education at the University of Minnesota Agriculture School in May of 1944. She was united in marriage to her childhood sweetheart, Carsten Madsen, on October 14, 1944, at Bethany Lutheran Church. Luella left her comfort zone in Lake Stay Township to follow Carsten during his time in training and at sea with the United States Navy during World War ll. She traveled to wherever he was stationed including Norfolk, Virginia; Houston, Texas; and finally, Hawthorne, California. While he was at sea, she spent her days working in an electroplating factory. After the war they returned to a farm located less than two miles from where she was born. There they farmed and began raising their family. Soon they purchased the farm next door with space to raise their three young boys. Luella and Carsten showed true perseverance as a severe tornado left their farm in pieces. They rebuilt it together with Luella making the house into a home for her family which was soon blessed by the birth of a daughter. Luella actively farmed with her husband for the rest of her life, never truly retiring. Carsten and Luella celebrated 75 wonderful years of marriage in 2019. On Wednesday, January 22, 2020, Luella died peacefully at the Tyler Healthcare Center in Tyler, Minnesota at the age of 93 years, nine months, and 17 days.
Luella was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church serving on the women’s auxiliary and participating in Bible Study. She was charter member of the VFW Post #6029 Auxiliary and was superintendent of the commercial building at the Lincoln County Fair. Luella served as a 4-H Leader for 20 years and was Lake Stay Township Clerk for nine years. Luella was a 20-year, courageous cancer survivor. During her free time, she enjoyed painting, doing various crafts, and baking breads and pastries. Luella also loved to travel and play golf. She always found time to play with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was extremely proud of all their educational and professional accomplishments attending all their high school and college graduation ceremonies. They will always remember her beautiful smile, her fresh baked buns, and that she always greeted them by their name. She will always be remembered for her love of family, country, church, friends, and farming.
Luella is survived by her husband, Carsten of Lake Stay Township; children, Glenn (Sara) of Redwood Falls, Minnesota, Murray (Kathleen) of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Ron (Lynette) of Arco, Minnesota and Kay (Mike) Ponstein of Marshall, Minnesota; 15 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Earl Andersen; sister, Florence Runge; and granddaughter, Jennifer Gladis.
