June 27, 1926 - May 16, 2020
Gertrude “Trudy” Ann Ness
(nee, Lundblad)
Age 93, of Edina.
Gertrude Ann Lundblad Ness died peacefully on May 16, 2020, at York Gardens in Edina, surrounded by the loving care staff who stood in for family and friends who could not visit her during this pandemic. She was born on June 27, 1926, only daughter of Clarence and Lillie Hemborg Lundblad. Raised on a farm near Gowrie, Iowa, she was proud to be on the basketball team that went to the finals of the Iowa State Girls’ tournament in 1944. After graduating from Augustana College in Rock Island, she taught for a year before answering God’s call to full-time church work. For thirty years she served as youth and education director for Lutheran congregations in Connecticut, Minnesota, and Nebraska, as well as on the national staff of the Augustana Synod Youth Office. In 1980 she left her position at Normandale Lutheran Church to marry Arnold Ness. They enjoyed wonderful years together, cut short by Arnie’s death in 1998. She remained a devoted member of Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis after his death, taking up his post as usher at the left side door and serving on several committees.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold Ness; parents, Clarence &; Lillie Lundblad; brothers, Lauren (Doris), Jerome (Patricia), and Harold (Ilene) Lundblad; and nephew, David Lundblad. Survived by nieces and nephews, to whom she was devoted as though they were her children: Roger Lundblad, Marilyn Walsh, Gerald Lundblad, John Lundblad, Robert Lundblad, Steven Lundblad, Barbara Lundblad, Betty Peterson, Ronald Lundblad, and Arnie’s nieces Beverly Birhanzel and Kathy Galvin, as well as several great-nieces and nephews; cousin Muriel Henderson, and many dear friends.
Memorial Service for the family was held on May 27, at 11:30 a.m. To watch the recorded version, click here.
Interment will be next to her beloved Arnie at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Memorials preferred to Central Lutheran Church.