Lillian (Lil) Ortendahl, 88

Lillian (Lil) Lorraine Ortendahl was born on December 12, 1935, to Roy and Pearl Borgen in Baudette, MN, and was the oldest of six children. She passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on December 11, 2024 at her home in Osakis, MN.

 

Lil grew up on the family farm where she developed her strong work ethic. She loved her small hometown and attended Wabanica Lutheran Church – which was a special place for her. She graduated as co-salutatorian from Baudette High School. She received her RN degree at Northwestern Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis and worked in the cardiac unit. On August 1st, 1959, she married Loren Robert Ortendahl, who was an assistant grocery manager at Red Owl. They lived with their four oldest children in Columbia Heights, MN, until they moved their family to Osakis, MN, in 1968. They bought Jack & Jill Grocery and later purchased Harry’s Supermarket, located in the original Herberger’s department store building. In 1970, their fifth child was born. They enjoyed many years as business owners and community leaders. In 1980, they left the grocery business when Loren became an Independent Sales Representative, then Regional Manager for World’s Finest Chocolate. Lil was right by his side and supported him by doing the bookkeeping and other business tasks.

 

Lil had a special passion for health care, politics, and charity work. She began volunteering at her church, the Chamber of Commerce and was the founder of the Osakis Festival and Pageant. She honed her creative skills by designing and decorating the Miss Osakis Festival Float with others each year. It gave her great pride to share it in local parades. Over the years, Lil expanded her volunteerism into leadership positions with numerous organizations outside of her local community as well as on the county/district/state level and as a National DFL Delegate. She participated in an impressive number of organizations, including the Osakis Lutheran Church, Lake Association, School Board, DFL 7th Congressional District, Osakis First Responders, and the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), to name a few. 

 

Family fishing trips to Canada were a highlight of the summer. They camped in the younger years, later rented a cabin, and eventually purchased their own cabin up north for relaxing, fishing, playing games, visiting with neighbors, and watching beautiful sunsets. She liked taking road trips to family/friend’s homes, Chicago, Branson, Nashville, and the West Coast. Lil loved traveling to the MNA and DFL conventions in Hawaii, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, along with joining her nursing colleagues in the Bahamas. World’s Finest Chocolate also gave Loren and her the opportunity to enjoy many vacation destinations all over the U.S.

 

In her spare time, she liked doing puzzles, quilting, sewing, reading, and flower gardening.

 

Lil is survived by her husband, Loren, and their five children: Lenae (Dale) Marusak, Lori (Pete) Moberg, Lowell Ortendahl, Lee (Donna) Ortendahl, and Lynn (Keith) Held; 13 grandchildren: Kristen Simonson, Katelyn Marusak, Matthew Marusak, Benjamin Marusak, Jennifer Kallstrom, Jacob Moberg, Jeremiah Moberg, Jordan Upwood, Kendra Held, Allison Held, Andrea Held, Isabella Bergquist, and Brandon Ortendahl; 15 great-grandchildren: Kallie, Caleb, Janelle, Emily, Aaron, Ava, Ean, Reid, Jack, Judah, Jameson, Madison, Emerson, Avery, and Maevelynn; and four siblings: Blanche Halverson, Raymond Borgen, Joy Nelson, and Ronald Borgen.

 

She is preceded in death by her father, Roy Borgen; mother, Pearl Borgen; and sister, Pernell Sather.

 

Please join us in celebrating Lil’s life at the Osakis Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 4th at 2 p.m. A public visitation will be at one hour prior to services at the church. Light refreshments will be provided after the service. Memorial donations can be made on Lil’s behalf to Lutheran Social Services and Osakis Lutheran Church.

 

A burial service will be held in her hometown of Baudette at the Wabanica Lutheran Church on Tuesday, January 7th.

 

 

Roy-Hetland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for Lillian.