Stella Burtness, 99
Thief
River Falls - Stella Burtness, 99, died Tuesday, June 1, 1999 at
Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 4 at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Holt with Reverend Robert Dahlen officiating. Joyce Halbasch was the organist. Casketbearers were Dr. Orley Gunderson, Walter Netterberg, Jerry Odegaard, Gordon Tollefson, Dr. Charles Samuelson and Bob Wold. Burial was in the Holt Cemetery in Holt. The Green Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Stella Mickelson was born on March 29, 1900 in Crookston, the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Storholm) Mickelson. The family moved to Randen Ridge near Gatzke when Stella was six years old. In 1910, they moved to Holt where they operated the Mickelson Cafe and Hotel.
Stella was united in marriage to Adolph Burtness at Holt in 1921. The couple farmed east of Holt until they moved to Portland, OR in 1944 where Stella was a welder in the shipyards and helped build aircraft carriers for the Navy. Following the war, the couple returned to Thief River Falls where she worked for Model Laundry for many years.
Stella was a member of Nazareth Lutheran Church.
She enjoyed watching television and visiting with friends and reminiscing.
Stella is survived by one son, Romal Burtness of Thief River Falls; one niece and one niece-in-law; one sister-in-law; and special friends, Chuck and Sharon Odegaard of Thief River Falls.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; three sisters, Esther Olson, Amanda Nannestad and Olive Kroke. A00003B1999JN09