Eileen Emerson

Eileen A. Emerson, 101, of rural Hawley, MN, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at Valley Care & Rehab in Barnesville, MN.  Funeral services will be held at Gran Lutheran Church on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 11:00 am with Pastor Jim Green presiding. Visitation will be held at Dobmeier Funeral Home in Barnesville, MN on Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm with a Prayer Service at 7:00 pm.

Eileen A. Anderson was born on August 23, 1922, to Jim and Mary (Svoboda) Anderson in Lawton, ND. While still an infant Eileen’s family relocated to Minnesota and settled on a farm in Parke Township. Eileen attended country school at District 11 and graduated from Hawley High School. Following graduation, she attended Moorhead State Teachers College. Due to a teacher shortage at the time, college graduates had a choice of which school they would like to teach in. Eileen chose to teach at District 37 country school because it was close to her home. Following her first year teaching she was transferred to her home district, District 11. She taught for 7 years before retiring to work with her husband, Jimmy, on their farm. Years later she was asked to teach under the Federal Title 1 Program at Hawley Public Schools which she did for 12 years until the program ended.

Eileen and James ‘Jimmy’ Emerson were united in marriage in a double wedding ceremony with her sister Marjorie and Clayton Veches at Gran Lutheran Church on October 23, 1943. They settled on a farm of their own where they raised their family. Besides farming, Eileen and Jimmy enjoyed traveling to California to visit family. Jimmy passed away in 1984. Eileen also took trips with her daughter to England and France as well as going back to California. Eileen was a lifelong member of Gran Lutheran Church where she was active in Luther League, Ruth Circle, wrote for the newsletter, directed the Gran Parish Easter Passion Play, and was a part of the Ladies Aide. She and Jimmy were also adult leaders for the Skree 4-H Club for many years. In retirement Eileen enjoyed following local sports, especially the Minnesota Twins, loved the Olympics, and was known to fill out an NCAA March Madness bracket every year!

Eileen is survived by her children: David (Brenda) Emerson, Hawley, MN, and Denelle Hunt, Edina, MN; grandchildren: Jennifer (Chad) Ostlund, Bethany (Quinn) Hawley, and Jason (Melissa) Emerson; and great-grandchildren: George and Jillian Emerson.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jimmy; her parents; and her sister Marjorie (Clayton) Veches.