Funeral Service for Elsie Anna Finnesand, 90, of Sisseton, SD will be held on Monday, December 17, 2012 at 3:00 P.M. at Grace Lutheran Church in Sisseton, SD. with Rev. Suzanne Benidt officiating. Organist will be Mona Greseth and soloist will be Pat Schubert. Pallbearers will be Butch Greseth, Vernon Severson Jr., Arnold Finnesand, Alan Schmidt, David Peterson, and Calvin Finnesand. Honorary pallbearers will be "Elsie's Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren and the school lunch coffee friends." Interment will be in the Sisseton Cemetery, Sisseton, SD. There will be visitation on Sunday, December 16, 2012 from 2:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. with family present from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. at the Cahill Funeral Chapel.
Elsie Anna Benson was born May 23, 1922 to Henry and Olga (Anderson) Benson. She was the youngest of three children. She attended Easter #2 country school and after her education Elsie worked as a telephone operator. She married Howard Finnesand on November 29, 1944 in Watertown, SD and together they raised three children. They farmed in the Sisseton area for many years. When they milked cows, they sold milk to the Browns Valley Creamery and used some milk to churn their own butter. They also owned and operated the Sisseton Roller Rink from 1955-1963, where they also had square dancing. They formed many lasting memories and friendships with the kids. In 1963 they moved to 315 7th Avenue East where they lived for over 40 years. Elsie worked at the A&C Variety Store, the City Bakery, and School lunch program. Elsie and Howard retired from farming between 1992 and 1994. In 2006 they moved into the Jard Apartments and in 2008 she entered the Tekakwitha Living Center. Elsie enjoyed wii bowling at the nursing home and bowled a 200 game. She was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church, Altar Guild, and Ladies Aid. She loved to have coffee with school lunch friends and co-workers. Elsie loved chocolate, chocolate covered cherries, animals, flowers, gardening, canning, cooking, and having people stop for coffee and lunch. She loved all the holidays, especially Halloween and Christmas. Elsie died on December 13, 2012 at the Tekakwitha Living Center, Sisseton, SD.
Elsie is survived by her children Dianne and (Vernon) Severson Jr. of Brook Park, MN; Marianne and (Butch) Greseth of Sisseton, SD; and Steven and (Lori) Finnesand of Sisseton, SD; ten grandchildren; twenty six great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and special family friend Jo Marie Groos of Sisseton, SD, (who was like a daughter to Elsie).
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one great-great grandson Owen Puffer, two brothers and sisters in-law Roy and Freida Benson and Richard and Mina Benson.