Prudence (Hokanson) Nystuen

Prudence (Hokanson) Nystuen

Pru Nystuen, age 93, went to her heavenly home on July 3, 2019, at Mt Olivet Careview in Minneapolis. She was born September 10, 1925, in Newfolden, MN, the youngest child of Sam O. and Regina Mae Lee. Pru graduated from Newfolden High School in 1943 and attended Augsburg College. She married Herbert Hokanson on August 24, 1946 and joined Herb on his family farm near Otisco. She became the church organist at Vista Lutheran Church and was active in the church organizations. She was involved in Waseca Area Hospice as a grief support group facilitator. Pru enjoyed sewing, flower gardening, baking, and playing piano. At the age of 85, she recorded a CD, “Piano by Prudence.” She accompanied for the Waseca and local Metro Christian Women’s Club, the Waseca Chorale, Sons of Norway Norsota branch, Emmaus Lutheran and Vista Lutheran Choir, and the Tower Point Choir in Mesa, AZ. Besides being a farm wife and mother, Pru taught piano lessons for 45 years in her home and also in New Richland and Waseca, where she moved in 1990. Herb had passed away in 1986 and Pru continued to live on the farm until moving “to town”. Pru and David Nystuen were married on September 3,1994, and lived in Lakeville, MN. She was church organist at Emmaus Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN and retired in 2011 after almost 60 years of providing beautiful church music. Pru and David wintered in Mesa, AZ for many years until Pru’s health began to fail. David’s devoted companionship allowed her to live at home for many years, despite the onset of dementia. Pru is survived by her husband, David, children, Janet (Ronald) Johnson, Gratia (Brad) Johnson, Timothy (Deanna) Hokanson, and Naomi (Dan) Palmquist, sister, Ivy Hakes, of Tucson, AZ, step-children Dave (Claudia) Nystuen, Jr., Sara (Val) Nystuen-Royzenfeld, and Janet (Jeff) Johnson, grandchildren Brita (Allen Poole) Johnson, Anne Johnson, Brian Bradley Johnson, Ellen (Mark) Johnson, Leah (William) Qubty, Karl (Lauren) Palmquist, Claire Palmquist, Maren Stjarne, Elsa Hokanson, and Kjell Hokanson, step grandchildren Jared and Joel Johnson and Korben Royzenfeld, Stephanie Romero, Thomas and Victor Botler, great grandchildren, Freja Johnson, Espen Poole, Lauren, Kaila and Brooks Johnson, and five step greatgrandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are sisters-in-law Arlene Lee, Mary Nystuen and Ardy Nystuen. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Herb Hokanson, infant daughter, Linda Diane Hokanson, sisters: Olive Lindquist, Marie Olsen, Marguerite Pearson, brother, Sherman Lee, grandchildren Jennae and Anders Hokanson, brothers-in-law: Fridolph Hokanson, Clifford Hokanson, Helge Lindquist, Olger Olsen, Matt Keiller, Keith Hakes, and John Pearson, and sisters-in-law Marie Hokanson and Eleanor Hokanson. Many thanks to the staff at Mount Olivet Careview and Grace Hospice for the loving care they provided for Pru.