Alfreda Bach of Thief River Falls, MN passed away on Thursday, April 21, 2022 surrounded by her loving family at her home near Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral Service will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at Zion Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Reverend Mark Helgeland Officiating. Burial will be held at Opdahl Cemetery near Newfolden at a later date.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday 5 – 8 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls and also one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church.

Alfreda May Skadsem was born August 23, 1935, daughter of Oscar and Nellie (Johnston) Skadsem at Grafton, ND, (Walsh County) at the home of Willis and Bertha May (Watkins) Johnston, her grandparents, number four of seven children. She was raised near Newfolden, MN, baptized at home November 28, 1940, and as a teenager, confirmed at the Free Church in Newfolden and later as an adult she was confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Middle River, MN.

She met Jens Kjald Bach July 4, 1953, and after a whirlwind romance, they married on September 14, 1953, in Minneapolis. To this union 6 children were born; LaVonne Edith and Jens Kjald Jr. (died in infancy), then David Allen, Rhonda Kaye, Robin Faye, and Diane Marie. We were blessed.

She attended country school in New Maine Township, first and second grade, then through ninth grade in Newfolden. She left home to work and continued her education when her children were in high school. She received her GED and took several courses (accounting, business law, typing, and computers)  at Northland College in Thief River Falls, MN.

She worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone, as a telephone operator and also as nurses assistant in Minneapolis before she was married. Then concentrated on raising her family and being a farm wife. For twenty-two years she was dispatcher, bookkeeper and "Go fer" for Bach Trucking. After retiring from trucking she worked at Digi-Key for eight years.

She and the family followed Jens in his career as a civil service fire fighter in MN and ND. Numedal Township has been her home since 1968. Jens died January 29, 2008, and left a huge void in her life. She turned the loneliness and loss into productivity by sewing 100 plus quilts, 24 quilted tablecloths, several baby quilts, 50 quilted tote bags, and 15 lap quilts.

She has been a member of Oak Ridge Lutheran Church since 1968, serving as Sunday school teacher for many years, also serving many years as council member and other committees. She was a member of WELCA, American legion Auxiliary and Eagles Auxiliary. She moved to Skylite Apartments July of 2014. Following health issues, she moved in with Rick and Diane in January 2018.

Alfreda is survived by her children David (Mary) Bach, Rhonda Bach, Diane (Rick Tischman) Bach, all of Thief River Falls, MN; grandchildren Daren (Lindsey) Asp, Jared (Amanda) Asp, Danica (Justin) Wood, Lucus Haugan, Travis (Megan) Bach, Christian Johnson; great-grandchildren Malachi, Gabriel, Ezekiel, Andrew, Ruby, Emerson,and Esther Asp, Rayna, Emma, and Leah Bach. Siblings Orville (Fran) Skadsem, Viola Anderson, Myrtle Anderson along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Alfreda is preceded in death by her husband Jens, children LaVonne, Jens Jr., and Robin Bach; grandson William Haugan; parents Oscar and Nellie; brothers Norris and Willis Skadsem; sister Doris Kliner.

Memorials are suggested to Opdahl Cemetery or Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com