Iva Wells, 95, of Thief River Falls, MN formerly of Goodridge died peacefully on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Minnesota Greenleaf Assisted Living in Thief River Falls, MN surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN, with Rev. Wesley Langaas and Rev. Terry Olson officiating.  Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN.

Iva Esther J. Thompson Wells was born January 2, 1921 at Sioux Falls, SD, and adopted by Palmer and Anna (Lien) Thompson.  She was baptized into the Lutheran Faith.  She attended Thief River Falls public schools and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1938.

On March 5, 1940, Iva was united in marriage to James A. Wells.  The couple began farm life in a small two room house which they homesteaded on the Red Lake Reservation.  In addition to clearing the land, raising their three children and tending farm chores, Iva cooked for road crews for several summers and also hosted deer and duck hunters for many seasons.  Birthday parties and family events were always celebrations that were shared by family and neighbors within the community.  After her husband, Jim, passed away in 2001, Iva lived alone on her farm for 11 years and kept her farm in pristine condition.  Since 2012, Iva received excellent care from staff at Greenleaf Assisted Living.

Iva was a member of Reiner Free Lutheran Church, Treasurer for the Ladies Aid for many years and a P.T.A. officer and president at the Goodridge School for 10 years.  She liked to write letters, quilt, garden, and do yard work and Norwegian embroidery.  Iva enjoyed sharing stories of homesteading and published her stories in a book titled, "Family Life on a Reservation Farm." Iva was pleased to learn about her Norwegian heritage and proud of her families in Norway. Several times she visited Norway and also enjoyed hosting visiting families from Norway.

Iva is survived by children, Yvonne (Glen Peters) Pederson, Thief River Falls, MN, Andy (Caroline) Wells, Bemidji, MN, and Rita (Ken) Parnham, Belle Plaine, MN; grandchildren, Mona (Randy) Pederson-Swenson, West Fargo, ND, Kristi (David) Wells-Saiger, Bemidji, MN, Wendy (Tim) Knudson, Bemidji, MN, Andrew (Monica) Wells IV, Bemidji, MN, Timothy (Amber) Wells, Bemidji, MN, Jill (Chuck) Paulson, Eden Prairie, MN, Rebecca (Tom) Higgins, Rosemount, MN and Cindy (Corey) Olson, Victoria, MN; great grandchildren, Hannah, Emma and Sonia Stimpfl, Blaine and Caleb Olson, Isabelle Wells, Ian and Aidan Swenson, Diana, Rania and Andrew Wells V, Chance Bourdon and Annika Higgins; half-brother, Harry Brekke, Norway; eight nieces and nephews in Norway and a niece in Hawaii; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by husband James; parents; half-sister, Anna Marie Jenswold; half-brothers, Tor-Leif and Kjell Brekke of Norway; brother, Eugene Thompson; and son-in-law, Roy L. Pederson.