Obituary of Alverna Fristad

Alverna Linnea Fristad, 92, of Cambridge passed away on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at GracePointe Crossing. She was born on November 25, 1919 in Sibley County, Minnesota, one of ten children of Alfred and Hulda (Anderson) Larson. Alverna grew up in the Winthrop area on the family farm, graduating from Winthrop High School in 1938. After high school she worked at a nearby canning factory to earn money so she could attend the Swedish Hospital School of Nursing. She would go on to graduate in 1941 and earn her degree as a registered nurse and began working in the Twin Cities caring for acutely ill patients. While in the Twin Cities she met Eddie Fristad who was working at Honeywell. The couple was married on August 31, 1942 at the Lutheran Church in Winthrop. Eddie went on to complete his military time and Alverna lived in Minneapolis. They also lived in Monticello, Anoka and in 1952 moved to Cambridge and raised their four children. While living in Cambridge, Alverna worked at the Princeton Hospital and the Cambridge State Hospital. When the new Cambridge Memorial Hospital was built she began working as Director of Nursing and worked there until retiring after 17 years. She was a longtime active member of the First Baptist Church, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School and serving on various boards and committees. Alverna was on the committee that established the Grandview Christian Home. She also volunteered at the Shalom Shop, Senior Activity Center, The American Cancer Society, and visited shut-ins. Alverna enjoyed reading, watching the Minnesota Twins and high school basketball. In particular, she loved needlework and crocheting afghans for all of her grandchildren & great grandchildren. She and Eddie enjoyed traveling, fishing and restoring old homes. Alverna was preceded in death by her parents, husband Eddie, four brothers and five sisters. She is survived by her daughter Heidi (John) Troolin of Cambridge and their children, David (Sarah) Troolin and children, Joanna, Samuel, Matthew and Rebekah; Peter Troolin, and children Sage Ellen, and Anna; Daniel (Danica) Troolin and children Madeline, John, and Allison; Sara (Shawn) Parker; son Paul (Kathy) Fristad of Stillwater and their children Anne (Ron) Gold and their son Ezra; Laura Fristad; daughter Enid (Don) Isler of Canton, GA and their children Emily (Brandon) Merkord and children Nicolas and Natalie; Melissa (Sean) Fisher and children Alexis and Paige; Nathaniel Isler; daughter Shirley (Tom) Smith of Beaverton, OR and their children Sara (Jeff) Nickel and children Grover and Louisa; Peter Smith; and Eben (Amy) Smith, as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.