Lillian Gertrude Amelia Gunhus Meisdalen

Lillian Gertrude Amelia Gunhus Meisdalen of Malta died on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the Hi-Line Retirement Center of natural causes at the age of 90.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 22, at the Elim Lutheran Brethren Church in Malta. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

Lillian was born April 22, 1924 on the family farm 15 miles southeast of Malta, Montana. Her parents were Gerhard Gunhus and Ruth Ohman Gunhus. She attended the nearby country school (Pioneer) in the Bennett Lake community. Compounding the devastating drought and the depression of the 30’s, the family lost their home to a fire in May of 1936. That fall, Lillian moved to Enderlin, North Dakota and attended school there. She lived with her brother, Harms, and his wife, Adleide. Lillian’s parents went on to Brooklyn, New York and lived and worked with friends. Lillian and her parents returned to the farm the next spring and proceeded to clear up affairs, sell out and move to the west coast.

They bought a small farm near East Stanwood, Washington and Lillian attended school at nearby Lincoln High School. After graduating as Salutatorian from high school in 1940, Lillian took a secretarial course at the Everett Business College and went to work for the Everett Pulp and Paper Company.

In 1945, Lillian’s father passed away and Lillian assumed the added duty of assisting her mother in the management and operation of their farm.

Some years later, after her mother had remarried, Lillian took a year off from work and attended the Lutheran Brethren Bible College at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. During this time Lillian joined a gospel music group that traveled extensively throughout the mid-west. Lillian’s trademark instrument was a baritone ukulele.

In 1957 Lillian and Noble renewed their childhood friendship (Lillian has spent the first 12 years of her life on the farm just over the hill from Noble’s home). On March 1, 1958, Lillian and Noble exchanged marriage vows at The Rock of Ages Lutheran Brethren Church in Seattle. Lillian’s brother, Major Harms Gunhus, officiated.

Then it was back to a place and a way of life that she’d left 20 years earlier. After moving back to Malta, she spent her days taking care of her husband and two sons, growing flowers in her garden and helping wherever needed on the farm. Lillian found ways to help others and was quick to bake a dish for those who might be in need. She very much enjoyed the new house that was built for her in 1960 on the farm.

Lillian became quite involved in the Elim Lutheran Brethren Church. She served many roles including Sunday school teacher, church organist and pianist and was active in the Womens Missionary Fellowhip at the Elim Church. She continued these ministries for over 40 years until her health and advanced age forced her to retire. She continued to live and work on the Meisdalen farm until moving to town in 2012. In 2013 Lillian moved to The Hi-Line Retirement Center. She resided there until her death.

Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Noble; son John (Susan), grandchildren Alec, Ian, Caleb, Julia and Kirsta; and son Glenn, and her son Chris of Malta.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Harms Gunhus and sister Viola Clark.

Lillian will be remembered as a kind, gentle mother who loved her family dearly. She will be greatly missed by those who loved her.