Minnie Ida Haaland was born on September 23, 1912, in Friendship Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, to Gabriel O. and Barbara M. (Fenn) Haaland. She was the fifth of twelve children. Minnie was baptized at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Friendship Township and was confirmed in Norwegian at the Hazel Run Lutheran Church. She attended eight grades at District 28 Country School. She excelled at spelling. On February 24, 1934, Minnie married Oren Christensen at the Montevideo parsonage of C. M. Tollefson. They set up housekeeping on a farm in Normania Township of Yellow Medicine County. A daughter, Barbara Theressa, was born to them. Minnie was very fluent in Norwegian and translated Norway letters into English for many people. She was active in the Nordfjord Laget and made two trips to Norway to visit relatives. Minnie loved to make pickles, jams and jellies. She exhibited at County Fairs for more than 60 years and won many ribbons. In 1998, she was selected as the Minnesota representative to the Sure-Jell Hall of Fame. She was active in the Spring Creek Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid, Friendship Mission Circle, Farm Bureau Women's Group, Normania Homemakers, and was a member of the County Nurse Advisory Committee. She was a leader of the Normania Busy Buddies 4-H Club for 10 years. Minnie lived on the farm until October 4, 2001, when she entered the Clarkfield Care Center. She passed away at the Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital, Montevideo, Minnesota, on Wednesday, November 28, 2001, at the age of 89 years, 2 months and 5 days. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Roger and Barbara Larson of Montevideo; grandson, Dr. Ronald Larson of Kalamazoo, Michigan; granddaughter, Rev. Dr. Mari Larson and her husband Gary Werbowski of Zimmerman, Minnesota; three sisters: Annie Christensen of Clarkfield, Mabel Brandt of Granite Falls, Minnesota, and Helen Leasman of Boyd, Minnesota; four sisters-in-law: Viola Haaland, Clara Christensen, Luella Stokke, and Darlene Christensen; brother-in-law and wife, Herbert and Evelyn Christensen, all of Clarkfield; special nephew, Richard Craig of Fridley, Minnesota, who spent a lot of time on the farm; as well as many other nieces and nephews. Minnie was preceded in death by her husband, Oren, in 1993; her parents, Gabriel and Barbara Haaland; her brothers: Gustav, Ole, Kenneth, Gerhard, and Karl; and sisters: Christine Aakvik, Hannah Evenson, and Gladys Christensen. Visitation Friday, November 30, 2001, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service: 6:30 p.m. Lynner Funeral Home, Clarkfield, Minnesota Funeral Service Saturday, December 1, 2001, 10:30 a.m. Salem Lutheran Church, Montevideo, Minnesota Officiating, Pastor Wayne D. Kopitzke Organist, Donna Jo Kopitzke Soloist, Rev. Dr. Mari Larson "Amazing Grace" Casket Bearers Bill Brandt, Claire Christensen Richard Craig, Jon Haaland Lynell Leasman, Roger Rodness Larry Stensrud, Tom Van De Putte Final Resting Place Spring Creek Lutheran Cemetery Normania Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota