Nella Malena Olsen Kvatum, was born in Minneapolis, MN June 19, 1917 to Martin and Ida (Kriesel) Olsen. She attended school and graduated from Miller Vocational School in Minneapolis.
June 15, 1940, Nella was united in marriage to Robert Kvatum at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN and resided there for two years. In 1942 they moved to Beardsley, MN. where they were engaged in farming. Nella helped Robert on the farm helping with the harvest, driving the grain to town.
Nella was a faithful member of Holden Lutheran Church and was involved with many activities; Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, Ladies Aid president, treasurer, and secretary of Holden Lutheran Cemetery Assn. On Sunday afternoons she enjoyed being a volunteer at the Clinton Good Samaritan Center for the church service, and visiting with many residents who were her friends. Her Confirmation memory verse was from Romans 5: 1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Nella loved to express her faith in song, and was soloist for many occasions at Holden Lutheran Church. She was also a long-time member of the Foster Mothers Extension Club where she enjoyed getting together with friends and neighbors.
She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, and reading. She grew vegetables for canning and loved growing flowers. Her kind and gentle spirit will be missed by family and friends.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara (Robert) Hornstein of Ortonville, MN; son, Dennis (Joan) Kvatum of Beardsley, MN; three grandchildren, Shelly (Scott) Blumhoefer of New Ulm, MN, Steven (Tamie) Hornstein of Canby, MN, Richard Kvatum of St. Joseph, MN; three great-grandchildren, Andrew, Hannah, and Isaac Blumhoefer; two sisters, Helen Murphy and Elaine Larrabee of Orange, CA; one nephew, three nieces and one grand niece of Orange, CA.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert.