Frances M. Skovlund, 85

Published 11:06 am Tuesday, August 27, 2013

A memorial service for Frances M. Skovlund will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Jeff Laeger-Hagemeister will officiate.

Frances Skovlund died at Oak Park Place on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. She was 85 years old.

Frances Skovlund

Frances was born Aug. 13, 1928, to Frank and Alice (Farrel) Mahan in Decatur, Ill. Upon high school graduation, she enrolled and eventually graduated from MacMurray College with a bachelors degree in education. After two years of teaching, she changed jobs and went to work as executive secretary to the chairman of the board at the Fred Harvey Corp. She was a “Harvey Girl.”

On May 18, 1957, Frances was united in marriage to Paul Skovlund in Chicago, Ill. To maintain a family and a 55-year marriage, Frances moved with her husband and children all over the United States but eventually settled in Albert Lea. Frances worked as a legal secretary for many years before getting her credential to teach at the Vo-Tech, now Riverland College. She taught legal secretarial and business and office machine classes. Her business activities were significant and her volunteer activities were numerous. She was a member of the school board for Albert Lea High School from 1974 to 1977. As a volunteer, she participated and held offices in PEO, AAUW, LWV, Albert Lea Community Theatre and the Investment Club. She was also committed to the food shelf in Albert Lea.

Frances took up golf at the Albert Lea Country Club and often played when she was on vacation. Frances was a crossword aficionado. She did the New York Times crossword puzzles every day and looked forward to the Sunday puzzle. Frances was a lifelong Democrat with one small slip when she campaigned for Barry Goldwater when he ran for president.

Frances loved life and experienced it through family, traveling, friendships and good times. She will be greatly missed by friends and family.

Frances is survived by her husband, Paul R. Skovlund; daughter, Sarah E. Skovlund; and son, Hans D. Skovlund.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Alice Mahan; three sisters, Alison Tibbitts, Cynthia Sloth and Nancy Reuss.

In lieu of flowers, the Skovlund family would prefer memorials go to the local food shelf.