Born: 24 Sep 1917, Holmes City twp, Douglas co, MN
Married: 1) 14 Apr 1962, Kensington, Douglas co, MN to William Dan Windahl
2) 7 Mar 1981, Pope co, MN to Roy Allen Whitaker
Died: 11 Feb 2006, Morris, Stevens co, MN
Buried: Trysil – Bethesda cemetery, Holmes City twp, MN
Parents: Oscar Nygaard
Olive Christianson
Echo-Press, Alexandria, MN. 17 Feb 2006
Cora Evelyn Whitaker, 88, Starbuck, died February 11, 2006 at Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris.
Cora was born September 24, 1917 to Oscar and Olive (Christianson) Nygaard at the family home in Holmes City Township near Farwell. She was baptized at Trysil Lutheran Church and later confirmed at Farwell Lutheran Church.
Cora attended country school and also worked for the Reuben Hvezda family where she helped with the children and household chores. She began working in the kitchen at Bethany Homes in Alexandria and Ebeneezer Lutheran Home in Minneapolis, where she worked for many years. Cora loved her family and would return to help with chores and spend time with her nieces and nephew.
In 1962 she married William “Bill” Windahl, owner of the Windahl Cafe in Farwell, at First Lutheran Church in Kensington. Bill died eight years later, and Cora continued to operate the cafe. In 1978 she moved into Lowry. Cora started working at Anderson’s Nursery near Farwell, where she planted countless marigolds and other flowers through the years.
Cora kept busy baking cookies for family and friends and always had a supply of sweets for the kids. Cora enjoyed doing embroidery and making quilts for church and also for her family.
She was married to Roy Whitaker in 1981. Cora was an active member of the local senior citizens group and Farwell Lutheran Church, serving as Sunday School teacher and member of the ladies aid. Roy died in 1984. Cora moved to the Holly Ridge Manor in Starbuck in 2003.
Cora is survived by nieces, Anndalin “Ann” (James) Drewes of Lowry, Theresa (John) Lanigan of Glenwood; nephew, Darwin (Debbie) Nygaard of Farwell; 11 grand-nieces and nephews; 12 great-grand-nieces and nephews; four sisters, Edith Anderson of Park Rapids, Sylvia Haabala of Farwell, Palma (Orvis) Berg of Osceola, WI, Adeline (Herbert) Berg of Alexandria; and several other nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; great-nephew, Jeremy Lanigan; brother, Julian Nygaard and his wife, Arline; brothers-in-law, Martin Anderson and Ralph Haabala; and nephew, Dale Haabala.
Funeral services were held February 15 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lowry with Pastor Curt Larson officiating. Interment was at Trysil Cemetery near Lowry.
Arrangements were with Hoplin Funeral Home in Glenwood.