Mildred Joyce Furuseth age 93 died on September 26th, 2020 from a brief illness.  Preceded in death by her parents John and Christine Hanson; 5 siblings, husband Leonard; son Jon, survived by her loving daughter Sandra; dearest friend Kay Heyerman; her grandchildren; Annie (Prince), Breanna, Cole, Andy (Kelly), Ben (Melissa), Katie; great grandchildren; Zachariah, Isaac, Noah, Damon, Nate, Taylor, Tanner, Connor & Kylie.  Celebration of life services will be held graveside at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN, May 16th at noon .  The sons of Norway Snorre Lodge #70 are also hosting a book launch for Mildred's book collaboration with Gretchen Beito about the 99th Ski Battalion "SEP" at the Floyd B. Olson park Gazebo on May 16th at 2:00 .

Millie, nicknamed Mimi by her grandkids, was beloved by her family and friends.  She was adorable inside and out.   Her joyful spirit radiated from her to the extent that she nearly glowed with positivity, patience and abundant love.  Her smile was so big and so bright...,it was constantly beaming on her beautiful face.  She sincerely knew how to Love everyone deeply and it literally didn't matter if you had just met or she'd known you a lifetime!  She was enthusiastic just the same! Her heart was wide open like the sky.

She told such great stories about her life. Her memory was impeccable and she had a wonderful sense of humor and a contagious laugh that was often right down to her toes.  When she started laughing...the whole room was laughing with her!  She often said that she just loved life!  She lived everyday to the fullest.

She adored her husband so much, they were a dynamic duo.  They had a rare bond that was endearing...they were absolutely so close.  True partners in every aspect of their journey.  They raised kids, rode horses and snow-cats, cheered (too loudly) at hockey games (haha), cooked holiday feasts, went to church, and when Mimi got a job at Digit Key in her 70's, Len made her lunch and drove it to her everyday and they ate together in the car on her break.  In the months before she died, she was talking a lot about missing Leonard soo much.  She often said that she wasn't afraid to die...her faith was strong.  She really loved the Lord.  After Leonard died, she attended Trinity Lutheran Church every Sunday with her best friend Bonnie Tunberg.  Mimi also had amazing  fashion sense and she always fixed herself up nicely for church with her hair neatly curled.  She looked a bit like a living doll in our eyes.  Yet, she was always humble saying that "a person should fix up and then forget about it."

It was also a funny topic in our family to discuss her love of "bargain" shopping.  Her un-canny ability to get incredible prices for ALL of her purchases was legendary!  We often joked that stores should just start paying her to take items away!  She was so generous and thoughtful.  Nearly every penny she made she found a way to gift it to someone who needed it.  Either she bought them what she thought they might like or she payed for something they needed.  She was so connected to people.  She called friends and family daily to check in.  She was always so positive.  When she spoke her words were sincerely wise and kind.

She was known for her hospitality and her freezer was always stocked with fresh made buns, bars and lefse.  Over the years we enjoyed countless home cooked holiday feasts. Family was central to her heart.  She also loved; her house, planting flowers, doing countless crossword puzzles, shouting out wheel of fortune answers at the TV, eating sweets, watching her great grandkids hockey games and cheering so loudly that she was uncomfortable to sit next to haha!  Eating breakfasts with son in law Ray.  Bargain shopping with Kay!  Crocheting washcloths on the couch with her daughter Sandy...even though those washcloths weren't always perfect squares.  Mimi was a truly beautiful soul in every imaginable way.  She was deeply loved by her family.  She is dearly missed and will be forever in our hearts.

May the memory of Mildred be blessed.

Condolences can be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com