Ilse (Elsie) Dorothea Christina (Petersen) Gullicksrud

Ilse (Elsie) Dorothea Christina Petersen Gullicksrud, 97, died peacefully surrounded by her family Monday, May 2, 2022, at home in Bemidji.

Funeral Services will be at 2:00 pm, Friday, May 6, 2022, at Solway Lutheran Church with visitation one hour prior. Interment will be at the Solway Cemetery with a luncheon to follow.

She was born to Fritz and Agnes (Lubberstedt) Petersen November 4, 1924, in Garlstorf, Germany. The family boarded the New Amsterdam ship September 1927 and landed in the United States at Ellis Island. They lived in Kansas and Nebraska before moving to Solway, MN in March 1932. Elsie graduated from Bemidji High School in 1943. After graduation she worked at Lockheed Aircraft Company in California. After a short time, she returned to the Bemidji area and work at the Markham Hotel and USDA ASC. On December 11, 1951, she married the love of her life, Leonard Gullicksrud after which she became a full-time homemaker and raised 5 children. Elsie was very active in Solway Lutheran Church and served as treasurer for 35 years. In addition, she was president of the lady’s aid, Sunday school teacher, and a member of the ladies quilting group that sent thousands of quilts to Lutheran World Relief. She was also the treasurer for Eckles township for 35 years and an election judge. Elsie enjoyed blueberry picking, baking, cooking, gardening, canning, trapping gophers, quilting, and spending time at the cabin with family.

She is survived by her children: Julie (Dennis) Zeto of Bemidji, MN, Mark (Wendy) Gullicksrud of Solway, MN, Carolyn (Tom) Schwab of Princeton, MN, Steven Gullicksrud of Bemidji, MN, and Lori (James) Lanes of Maple Lake, MN; sister Anneliese Lundberg of Bemidji, MN; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; parents, Peter (Fritz) and Agnes Petersen; brothers Hugo Petersen and Karl Petersen; and 2 infant sisters.

Memorial contributions may be made to Solway Lutheran Church.

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