Obituary of Eileen L. Lindgren

Eileen Lillian Lindgren, 87, of Cambridge passed peacefully on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West. She was born on February 6, 1928 to David R. and Helen V. (Backman) Anderson in Springvale Township, the youngest and only girl of four children. She attended Dowling Country School and graduated from Cambridge High School, after which time she worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell telephone in Cambridge and Minneapolis. On April 28, 1951 she married Axel V. Lindgren at the Cambridge Lutheran Church, and to this union three children were born, Kathleen, Mary and Bruce. Eileen and Axel lived in Crystal and Brooklyn Park until 1970, at which time they returned to Cambridge to her family farm. She was lifelong member in the American Legion Auxiliary and served as president in the 1970s. Once the children were gone, Eileen attended nursing assistant training, and for many years worked at Herman's Bakery in Cambridge. After Axel's passing in 1984 she worked in Recreational Therapy at Grandview Nursing Home until she retired. On June 11, 1988 she married Alvin O. Mathison of Princeton. Old time dancing was their passion (and how she loved to dance) and they made many friends while doing this for most of their marriage. Upon Al's passing in 2010, Eileen moved from the country to Bridge Park Apartments, where she made many new friends and enjoyed the convenience of city living. Eileen was a loving mom and grandma and will be greatly missed by her family and friends, especially her daughters. Eileen is survived by her daughters, Kathleen (John "Mac" Sr.) McCully of Cambridge, Mary Erickson of North Branch, six grandchildren, Melinda Erickson of Hawaii, Kelli McCully (Bryce Singleton) of St. Paul, Jesse Erickson of Isanti, Susan (Ryan) Haen of Richfield, Jordan Erickson of Cambridge and John D. McCully Jr. of Minneapolis, great grandson, Norwood Singleton, her sisters-in-law Hattie Anderson of Cambridge and Esther V. Olson of Braham, and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Eileen was preceded in death by her husbands Axel V. Lindgren and Alvin O. Mathison, son Bruce Lindgren, son-in-law Curtis Erickson, her parents, and brothers Donald, Delmar and Delorne Anderson.