LORNA EASTLUND

Lorna Darlene (Villnow) Eastlund, of Mora, passed away on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at her home in Mora. She was 94 years old.

Lorna was born on March 23, 1931, at home on her family farm near the Rum River in Princeton, Minnesota. She attended country school as a child for grades 1-8 and later graduated from Princeton High School in 1948. Lorna worked as a telephone operator in Princeton until her marriage to Morris Eastlund on March 17, 1950, at Zion Lutheran Church. Morris and Lorna met on the school bus and became high school sweethearts. They spent much of their lives making beautiful music together with Lorna playing the piano and Morris on the accordion.

Morris and Lorna lived on the Eastlund family farm in Dalbo before moving to Mora in 1961.  Lorna brought six children into the world. She was a wonderful homemaker and mother who kept herself busy cooking, baking, sewing, quilting, cleaning, and encouraging her children in all their activities. In 1993, Lorna and Morris moved to a home on Mille Lacs Lake in Wahkon, MN for ten years, after which they returned to Mora in their senior years.

Lorna’s Christian faith was very important to her. She attended Zion Lutheran in Princeton as a child, Salem Lutheran Church in Dalbo when she and Morris were first married, Grace Lutheran in Mora for most of their life and Faith Lutheran in Isle, when they lived in Wahkon. Lorna and Morris were greatly influenced by Cursillo which was such an encouragement to their faith.

Lorna enjoyed playing piano and organ, fishing, making many beautiful quilts for her family, square dancing, baking endless goodies, and winning at 13-5! Her specialties were peach pie, Swedish rye bread, and oatmeal cookies. No one who visited the Eastlund’s ever left hungry! Morris and Lorna recently celebrated 75 years of marriage!

Lorna is survived by her husband, Morris, children, Deb (Greg) Yankowiak, Karen (Steve) Wilson, Susie (Joe) Nordstrom, Janet (Frank) Gundy, and Pam (Dave) Johnstone, 15 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and 4 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Ed and Edna Villnow, sister, Marvel (Gordon) Mellberg, and her beloved son, Jimmy, who passed away at 2 1/2 years, with whom she is finally reunited. She was the heart of her family and will be deeply missed. 

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Mora with Pastor Gary Guptill officiating.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 6:00 pm on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at the Hamilton Funeral Homes - Akkerman Chapel in Mora AND again 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

A luncheon will be held immediately following the service at church.

Graveside Service and Interment will be held 1:30 pm on Thursday at the Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Dalbo, MN.

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