Obituary of Margaret Naslund

Margaret Elizabeth Naslund of Camrose, formerly of Hay Lakes, Alberta, passed away on Monday, May 2, 2016 at the age of 77 years. Margaret Elizabeth was born August 5, 1938 to Alvin and Dorothy Forsen, the second of three children. The family farmed in the east Hay Lakes district where Margaret attended Brandland School, and later bused to Hay Lakes School. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Wilhelmina Lutheran Church. At the young age of sixteen Margaret met the love of her life, Arnold Naslund, and were married a year later, September 2, 1955, at Wilhelmina. They began their life together on the Naslund home place where they farmed for 35 years until their retirement to Camrose in 1990. During those years four children were born, Barbara in 1956, Gordon in 1958, Bonnie in 1963 and June in 1966. Life on the farm was busy where together, Mom and Dad, milked cows, raised cattle, pigs, chickens and some grain. It didn't stop there for Mom. She would fill her day forever baking, cooking, sewing, cleaning and canning fruit in the fall which would last most of the winter. During their farming years, they appreciated the great neighbors and coffee visits with them, the community they lived in, and life on the farm, however difficult some years may have been. In 1990 they sold the farm and moved to Camrose where Mom continued to work part time at Smitty's for a few more years. She truly enjoyed their home in town and continued to bake amazing buns and flatbread giving most of it to her kids. Her annual fall "palt fest" was something even the grandchildren looked forward to. Christmas was always at Mom and Dad's where the family got together for Christmas cheer and turkey, and as the evening progressed so did the noise and laughter. Mom grew an abundance of bedding plants in the summer, kept the bird feeder filled in the winter, watched her soap stories and crocheted blankets and pillow covers year round. When Dad was placed in long term care at Bethany, Mom's routine changed to daily visits with Dad, bringing him flatbread and sometimes dinner. Her love and commitment to Dad and her family was unconditional. Mom passed away peacefully the evening of Monday, May 2, 2016 in St. Mary's Hospital, three months after being diagnosed with cancer. She will be lovingly missed and is survived by one son Gordon and his wife Joan and their three sons Derrick, Jonathan and Austin; one daughter June and her daughter Jacqueline; her other grandchildren Brenda (Curtis), Charlene, Brian, Marie and Brittany; her great-grandchildren Ariel, Nora, Elsa and Axel; her brother Glen and his wife Betty Forsen, sister-in-law Sylvia Lechelt, sister-in-law Alphild Sims and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of almost 60 years Arnold in June 2015, daughters Bonnie in March 1994 and Barbara in November 2013, as well as her brother Dennis in 1963 and a son-in-law Jack in 1985. "Sov så gott" Mom. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 2:00 pm from Wilhelmina Lutheran Church near Hay Lakes, Alberta with Rev. Ron Chetney officiating. Inurnment has taken place in the Wilhelmina Cemetery. Memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to Wilhelmina Lutheran Church.