Kramer Family Tree » Tilda Josephine "Tillie" (Tilda Josephine "Tillie") Ellefson (1911-2012)

Personal data Tilda Josephine "Tillie" (Tilda Josephine "Tillie") Ellefson 

• First name Tilda Josephine "Tillie".
• She was born on July 4, 1911 in Thief Lake Township, Marshall, Minnesota, Verenigde Staten.
• Resident:
• in the year 1920: Thief Lake, Marshall, Minnesota, United States.
• in the year 1930: Thief Lake, Marshall, Minnesota, United States.
• (Marriage) on April 15, 1939 in Middle River, Marshall, Minnesota, United States.
• She died on May 16, 2012 in Thief River Falls, Pennington, Minnesota, USA, she was 100 years old.
• She is buried on May 22, 2012 in Thief Lake, Marshall, Minnesota, Verenigde Staten.
• A child of Thomas Gunnar Ekon Ellefson and Julianna Greger Gundersdatter

Household of Tilda Josephine "Tillie" (Tilda Josephine "Tillie") Ellefson

She is married to Arthur O Berg.

They got married on April 15, 1939 at Middle River, Marshall, Minnesota, United States, she was 27 years old.

Child(ren):

1. (Not public)

Notes about Tilda Josephine "Tillie" (Tilda Josephine "Tillie") Ellefson

From obiturary on Find A Grave: Tillie Ellefson Berg was born on July 4, 1911 at home on a farm in Thief Lake Township, Marshall County, MN. She attended Grasslake rural school in the Benwood area, graduating in the 8th grade. Tille often talked of her and her siblings walking 2 1/2 miles to school. With her dad having a lot of chores to do, they walked most of the time, but would get a ride whenthe weather was bad. She and her brother, Melvin, also attended school at the Old Iron Side School (or Tin School) located in Marshall County, where her sister, Mildred, was one of the teachers. Tillie's parents were Thomas Ellefson and Julia Gregor. They both emigrated here from Norway, with her Father coming in 1893 and her Mother in 1900. They eventually met in Roseau County where they married. They started farming in Thief Lake Township, Marshall Township, MN. Tillie grew up with one sister, Mildred, and two brothers, Edwin and Melvin. She remembered all the hard work and fun they had as chuldren, helping to hay, raise horses, cattle, sheep, chickens, geese, turkeys, and pigs. Tillie and her siblings also helped to move the cattle to town to sell. Her Father and Mother would give ech kid a calf in the fall to sell for spending money and she remembered once earning $9.00 for her calf! After her father passed away in 1934, Tillie and her mother moved into an apartment in Middle River where Tillie took care of her mother and did various cleaning jobs in town. Her mother then passed away in 1938. In 1933 Tillie met Art Berg. The history of Art and Tillie's first meeting with one another centered around an old Detroiter automobile. Art was in need of a car, and Tillie's father, Thomas, had the Detroiter for sale. Art took a trip up north of Thief Lake one day to look at it,but it was not to his liking. He was interested in obtaining a used car, but the Detroiter was slightly older than what he had in mind, and bought a Maxwell instead. It happened later that Adolph Olberg was looking for a car and Art offered to take him to the Ellefson's farm to look at the Detroiter. A deal might have transpired, as the story went, except that the car would not start. The Magneto, it seemed had gone its distance. The men tried this and tried that, and finally for lack of any other source of power, decided to go to the house and take the dry cells out of the telephone. At thispoint, the entire theme of the story changed. There was Tillie, and the sparks (not the kind that's needed to get the motor started, but romantic sparks instead) flew. Art and Tillie were married April 15, 1939, in Middle River, MN and they made their home in Middle River, Thief Lake Township. They were blessed with one daughter, Arline in 1941. Tillie and Art owned and operated a farm in Como Township, Marshall County, MN. They lived on the farm all of their married life. Together they worked hard doing mix farming, raising grain, large gardens, cattle, sheep, chickens, putting up hay for the animals, and had a dairy herd. They won the outstanding Dairy Farmer Award in 1969. Later they went into beef farming. Tillie worked side by side with her husband keepiing the farm running and madesure that her family always had fresh baked bread, baked and canned goods, and kept up with her housework and sewing. In the evenings when the work was done, Tille and the family would play games, govisiting, or play music together with Tillie on the piano and Art on the violin. On motherhood, daughter Arline commented that her mother had a firm hand but fair, and taught her many things including to respect others, family values, and that family was important. Tillie liked to make Chirstmas Eve very special, and always made Art's and Arline's birthdays special by baking their favorite cake. She always welcomed company, and loved visiting with friends and family. When she hears that she was getting company, she would immediately start baking something and made sure fresh coffee was on. When Art passed away on May 17, 1986, Tillie moved to the Manor Apartments in Middle River. Her apartmewnt was adorned with pictures of the people that meant the world to her family and friends. In 2004 Tillie was chosen as Middle River's outstanding Senior Citizen. Even though she thought she didn't deserve that title, her family knew that it meant the world to her. On July 4, 2011, Tillie reached a milestone in attaining the amazing age of 100! She was honored as the Grand Marshall of the 2011 Goose Festival in Middle River. Tillie always said that she loved Middle River and all of the friendly people there calling it, "The best place ever." Enjoying Middle River and the surrounging area all of her life, she contimued to live there until 2011. She then moved into assisted living at Valley Home in Thief River Falls, all the while missing her favorite town and people. Tillie's family has numerous memories of her they hold dear to their hearts. She loved going to the farm to look around and tell them stories of life there and what she held dear. Her grandchildren will tell you that Grandma would make sure that they knew that everything worth doing was worth putting your best effortforward. Don't leave things for others to do. Finish your work, don't complain, and enjoy family at the end of the day. As Tillie always said, "Hard work, a good life and clean living has made it possible for me to enjoy a long life." But she would have also told you that she is not alone. She said that many people have done the same or more than she had and they all understand how it was back then. It's just how it was. She thought she was ordinary. Her family thought she was something special. In May of 2012 Tillie moved to the Thief River Care Center. She passed away peacefully in her sleep there at the age of 100. Tillie loved and was loved, and will be missed by many as we remember a life well lived as a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, and friend. Tillie is survived by her loving daughter, Arline Jesme of Thief River Falls, MN; grandchildren, Joni Fletty of Falcon Heights, MN, Donna (Terry) Mosher of Tower, MN, James (Shannon) Jesme of Thief River Falls, MN, John (Tina) Jesme of Britt, MN; great-grandchildren, Aaron Fletty, Evan Fletty, Kara (Paul) Starkovich, Brandon, Mosher, Kayleigh Jesme, Evelyn Jesme, Gunnar Jesme, Mikayla Jesme, and Rylan Jesme; great-great-granddaughter, Sophie Starkovich; many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

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Timeline Tilda Josephine "Tillie" (Tilda Josephine "Tillie") Ellefson

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