Lona (Mrs. Cliff) Kittelson, age 98, formerly of Fergus Falls and Battle Lake, died Friday, December 10, 2010 at New Brighton Care Center, New Brighton, Minnesota.
Lona Grace Kittelson was born on March 1, 1912, in
Columbus
,
North Dakota
, the daughter of Albert Ziegenhagen and Emma Lundeen. She attended the
Columbus
public schools until the age of 15, when the family moved to
Grand Forks
. She graduated from
Central
High School
in
Grand Forks
, and then attended the the
University
of
North Dakota
, graduating in 1933 with a teaching degree. She then taught junior and senior high English and Latin for six years in Donnybrook,
Lisbon
, and
Minot
,
ND
.
On August 19, 1940, she married Clifford (Kit) Kittelson, who was originally from
Fergus
Falls
. The couple lived in
Minot
for two years until Kit entered the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II. After his return from the South Pacific in 1945, they lived in
Fargo
for eight years, where Lona was active in teaching Sunday School and various women's groups. The couple -- and by now, two daughters -- then moved to Norfolk, Nebraska, where Lona was Assistant Librarian in the Norfolk Public Library, as well as being active in the church, Women's Club, and Band Parents. After eight years, the couple returned to
Grand Forks
, where she worked as a reference librarian in the city library, and was active in the church.
After retirement in 1974, the couple resided at
Lake
Lida
and their rural Ottertail homes until they moved to
Deer
Lake
. She was a member of First Lutheran Church of Battle
Lake
, where she was active in WELCA and held other leadership roles. She also enjoyed herb gardening, walks, and reading. After a severe vision loss, she got training in functioning independently, learned Braille, and listened to cassette tapes on a wide variety of subjects, especially literature. In 1998, they moved to Mill Street Residence in
Fergus
Falls
, and in 2008, to
New Brighton
Care
Center
in
New Brighton
(near
St. Paul
).
Preceding her in death were her husband, Kit, in 2006 in Fergus Falls, her parents; her two brothers, Alvin in 1998 of Enderlin, ND, and Milo of Wilton Connecticut in 2003; and her sister, Verna Torreson of Grand Forks in 2010. She is survived by her two daughters, Carol Francis (1944) of
Omaha
NE
and Mary Lynn Kittelson (1946) of
St. Paul
MN
, and also two grandsons, Bradley Francis and Michael Francis of
Omaha
.
