Edna Grof

Edna Grof, age 94, of Willmar, died Sunday afternoon, November 22, at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, November 28, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar.  Interment will be in the Lake Lillian Community Cemetery.  Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, November 27, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Edna Lorraine Grof was born May 22, 1921, on the family farm in Lake Elizabeth Township to Elmer and Ruth (Swenson) Carlson.  She grew up in rural Atwater, was baptized and confirmed at Tripolis Lutheran Church, and attended Atwater High School, graduating in 1939.  She then attended the Willmar Business College.  Edna worked as a typist for the Army Air Corps in Tacoma, Washington during World War II.  Following the war, she worked as a typist for the Production and Marketing Administration in Minneapolis.  On November 14, 1946, Edna was united in marriage to Raymond Grof in Atkinson, Nebraska.  She owned a flower shop in Atkinson before working as a nurses aide at nursing homes in Atkinson and Norfolk, Nebraska.  In 1973, they returned to Minnesota and lived in the Lake Lillian community. Following Raymond's death in 1976, she began working in home health care in Lake Lillian. She retired in 1986 and moved to Willmar in 1991 and lived at the Highland Apartments. In 2007, she moved to Centennial Square.

Edna enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing cards, reading, baking and having coffee with friends.  She also enjoyed going to the lake, traveling, and having Burger King with her grandson Brian after Saturday evening Mass.

Edna is survived by two children, James (and Paula) Grof of Blomkest and Carol Nelson of Dale, TX; four grandchildren, Jeremy, Nicole, Emily and Brian; two great-grandchildren, Elle and Shane; several nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; son-in-law, Steven Nelson; brothers, Elmer Carlson and C. Eldon Carlson; sister, Lucille Linn; niece, Lois Linn; and nephews, David Carlson and Bradley Carlson.

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