Born: 15 Nov 1908, Holmes City twp, Douglas Co, MN
Married: 6 Jun 1934
Died: 19 Mar 2004, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, MN
Buried: Trysil-Bethesda cemetery, Holmes City twp, MN
Spouse: Gustav Ingvald Lordalen
Hilda Pearl Lordalen was born on November 15, 1908 in Holmes City Township to Johan and Frederika Heikkinen. Both of her parents were from Helsinki, Finland. Johan fled the Russian military and came to America. Eleven children were born into Hilda’s family. Eight of whom lived to adulthood. Hilda was the third youngest of those eight children. Her father delivered all the children but one. He was away working as a carpenter and two of the older children helped deliver the baby.
Their father Johan was a very religious man and Hilda was baptized and confirmed in the church that her father built, St Paul Lutheran in Moe Township. In Hilda’s home there was no card playing or dancing or work on Sundays. Her father would go to St Paul’s on Saturday night to heat the church for Sunday worship. In the winter he would ski to the church and in the summer he would walk. The children all grew up speaking Finish. Her childhood was spent surrounded by family and friends. She was educated in Holmes City.
On June 6, 1934, Hilda married Gustaf Lordalen a home builder, farmer and well driller. Prior to their marriage, Gust was building homes in the Denver, Colorado area when the depression struck in 1929 and people were unable to pay for the homes that he had begun to build. As a result, Gust packed up and returned to Minnesota. He bought a small farm, built a house and barn, bought some farm animals and was proud of the fact that he was always able to put food on the table.
To this marriage two children were born: Jane and Elaine. Hilda and Gust and their daughters spent a great deal of time in this church, Trinity Lutheran where their hearts and membership lie. In 1945, tragedy struck this beautiful family. Due to complications of a bleeding ulcer, Gust died at a young age and Hilda became a widow at the age of 37 leaving her along to raise Jane and Elaine ages nine and seven. It was Hilda’s strong faith in the Lord that saw her through those difficult years.
For many years Hilda was a caregiver for the elderly. After moving to St Paul in 1960, she was employed by Maxim’s of Minnesota and Dick and Jerry’s Salons. Elder care also continued to occupy her time. In 1982, Hilda moved to Minneapolis and continued to reside in her daughter Jane’s home up to the time of her death.
Jesus Christ, Hilda’s Lord and Savior called her to her blessed heavenly home on Friday, March 19, 2004. She was the last survivor of the eleven children born to Johan and Frederika Heikkinen. She was 95 years and 4 months. Survivors are her daughters, Jane Lordalen and Elaine and her husband, Delmore Moe, granddaughter Kristel and her husband Reed Hammerschmidt, grandson Todd Moe and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and friends.
These are excerpts from her eulogy.