Luella Fredericksen

Luella Fredericksen, 87, of Elk Horn, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, September 1, 2009, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa.

Clara Luella Fredericksen was born March 29, 1922, in Elk Horn, Iowa, the daughter of Henry Andraes and Clara Jorgene (James) Aagaard. She attended school in Elk Horn and graduated in 1938 from Elk Horn High School at the age of 16. After graduation, Luella worked with her dad at the Elk Horn Mercantile for 15 years.

On June 7, 1946, she married Martin LaVern Fredericksen at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. They moved from Kimballton to Elk Horn in 1949 and lived there for the remainder of her life. While living in Elk Horn she worked at Elk Horn Brand Eggs, Salem Lutheran Home and for the Town of Elk Horn.

She was a life member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church, where she was the Children's Choir director, sang in the choir and taught Sunday and Bible School. Luella was also active in the Women's Circle at church.


One of her passions was singing, especially Danish Songs. She was also a talented pianist and enjoyed playing the pump organ at Bedstemores House during Yule Fest. She performed for many occasions including weddings, funerals, anniversaries and Tivoli Fest, and was accompanied by Arlene Leistad. Luella enjoyed baking and cooking, and spending time with neighbors while talking over a cup of coffee. She loved to clean her home and working with her flowers. She took pleasure in the time she and LaVern would spend driving through the rural countryside, often stopping at Prairie Rose State Park to see if the fish were biting. While in the nursing home she often reminisced about the old times and hoped to return home some day.

Luella is survived by her daughter, Beth Heitman and her husband, Kenny of Mineola, Iowa; her son, Tim Fredericksen and his wife, Cindy of Elk Horn, Iowa; her five grandchildren, Holly Greiner and her husband, Don of Silver City, Iowa, Heidi Parks of Glenwood, Iowa, Trina Heitman Stille and her husband, Eric of Glenwood, Iowa, and Christopher and Nick Fredericksen, both of Elk Horn, Iowa; her six great-grandchildren, Austin, Amanda, Rebecca and Ryan Greiner, Brandon Parks, and Lauryn Elizabeth Stille; her brother-in-law, Chester Larsen of Littleton, Colorado; her cousins, Maxine Nelson, Emmert James and Paul Aagaard; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Clara Aagaard; her husband, LaVern Fredericksen; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Aage and Betty Aagaard, George and Miriam Aagaard; and her sisters, Edna Aagaard and Elizabeth Larsen.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation with the family present will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, September 3, 2009, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic. Condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 4, 2009, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, Iowa, with The Reverend Keith Menter and The Reverend W. Clayton Nielsen officiating. Burial will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery.
Those providing services at Luella's funeral are Reverend Keith Menter, clergy and soloist; Reverend W. Clayton Nielsen, clergy and reader; Nancy Watson, pianist; Janell Hansen, organist; Arlene Leistad, honorary organist; Lynette Wall and Matt Andersen, duet; pallbearers include Austin Clayton, Eric Stille, Nick Fredericksen, Christopher Fredericksen, Charles Larsen and Brandon Parks; honorary pallbearers include Mark Hervey, Jonelle Block, Merlyn Molgaard, Mary Edelman, Dick and Elinor Olsen and John and Betty Newton.