Margaret Landsem

VISITATION:

12:30 - 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel

SERVICE:

1:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel

Margaret Dorothy Landsem, 99, of Chippewa Falls, died Thursday, July 16, 2015 at the Rutledge Home while under the care of St. Croix Hospice.

She was born May 9, 1916, in Eau Claire to Mary (Arneson) and Ole Christianson. She was baptized at First Lutheran Church in Eau Claire and confirmed at Central Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls.

In 1918, Margaret's family moved to a farm south of Jim Falls where she grew up and attended a one-room school. She graduated from Chippewa Falls Senior High School in 1933, and then from the teachers' training course. She taught in rural schools for six years, including the Sunny Valley School, which is now a museum in Irvine Park. During WW II, she worked three years in civilian personnel in California and then as a parachute rigger at Hickam Field at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Margaret married Norman Landsem on Oct. 24, 1946 at Central Lutheran Church. They farmed and then moved to the Chippewa Falls area. She was employed as an aide at the Northern Center for 24 years, retiring in 1975. In her early years at the Center, she was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader there.

Margaret enjoyed doing Norwegian Hardanger needlework, crocheting afghans, and making Norwegian foods with Norman assisting with the lefse and krumkake. After her retirement, she and her husband enjoyed 25 years as "Snow Birds." During the summers, they traveled through many states and foreign countries, and enjoyed trout fishing, camping, hunting, and card playing.

She has been a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church since 1951.

Margaret is survived by her sisters-in-law, Agnes Landsem-Larson of Calif., Kathleen Bjork-Landsem of Chippewa Falls; a nephew, Merlin Balke of KY; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by: her husband on July 4, 2000; her parents; a brother, Orville Christianson in 1930; her infant son, Chris; and her cousins, Marie Arneson-Molnaa and Lorraine Arneson-Paape.

A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls with Chaplain Nathan Anderson, officiating. Interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Eau Claire.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the funeral chapel.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial to your favorite cause or charity would be appreciated in Margaret's memory.