Frances Lucille Oftedahl Aasen

Frances Lucille (Oftedahl) Aasen, age 88 of Westby Frances Lucille (Oftedahl) Aasen, age 88 of Westby, died suddenly on Wednesday, January 24, 2007. She was born November 26, 1918 to Hans and Teolina "Tillie" (Nedland) Oftedahl on their home farm in Vernon County. She was baptized and confirmed in the Norwegian language at the Bethel Church, rural Viroqua. She grew up in the Springville area. Times were tough and she had to leave home at an early age to work. She worked in the Viroqua Dime Store, as a nurses aid in Viroqua, and also as a house keeper in Chicago. On Friday, June 13, 1941 she was united in marriage to John Adolph Aasen at Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church by Pastor Holum. The couple lived in Westby where John worked for the REA. Later, they rented the Hans Olson farm and then the Kermit Rudrud farm. They raised tobacco and Frances worked at the EM Bekkedahl warehouse sizing tobacco. In 1952 they purchased the Bekkedahl farm on Black River Avenue. They sold that farm in 1964 and moved to Oconomowoc for one year. When they returned to Westby in 1965, they purchased the Haugen farm on Saugstad Road and worked reupholstering furniture until they retired. Frances lived the rest of her life on their farm. Frances was a member of Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church, WELCA, church circle, and spent several years working in the Sunday School office. She was also a member of the Nordic Doll Club. Frances and John spent their weekends at auctions and rummage sales. Frances especially loved collecting antiques. Macular degeneration confined Frances to her home after Johns death. While she missed driving, going to auctions, and looking at her collectibles, she found pleasure in listening to the birds and was very appreciative of company and telephone calls. Frances loved her family dearly and centered her life around caring for them. She took great joy in feeding everyone and will always be remembered for her special rhubarb cream pie, meatballs with lefse, squirrel with gravy and baking powder biscuits, and chocolate covered cherries. Frances is survived by four children: James (Elma Anderson) of Two Rivers, Kay (Jerry) Burke of Viroqua, Jane (Steve) Meyer of Westby, and Eric (Jeri) of Glenwood City; nine grandchildren: Derek (Vickey) Aasen of Clintonville, Gwen (Kerry) Longrie of Phymouth, Lance (fiance Kim) Burke of Westby, Bradley (Kim) Burke of Onalaska, Jeremy (fiance Marla) Burke of Minneapolis, MN, Heath (Kerry) Meyer of Minocqua, Kristen Schmitz of Ontario, and Sam and Luke Aasen of Glenwood City; and eight great-grandchildren: Alex, Abigail, Allison, and Braden Burke, Kort Meyer, Aubree Schmitz, and Aubrey and Katelyn Holtz. She is also survived by a special nephew, Kevin Ryden, who lived with her; one brother-in-law, Kenneth Aasen of Oconomowoc; a sister-in-law, Norma Aasen of Lake Geneva; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and three sisters. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 2, 1007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Westby Coon-Prairie Lutheran Church. Pastor Dennis Hallemeier will officiate with burial in the Coon Prairie Cemetery. Friends many call on Thursday from 4 7 p.m. at the Vosseteig Funeral Home, 708 S Hwy 14 in Westby. Friends may also call at the church on Friday after 10:00 a.m. The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.