Lila Mae Lundberg

Lila Mae Lundberg, 91, of Litchfield, passed away on Saturday, December 23, 2023, at Bethesda Grand in Willmar, MN.

Time for visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 5, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Litchfield. A memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Gordon Pennertz officiating. Interment will follow at Ripley Cemetery.

Lila Mae (Tengwall) Lundberg was born on May 8, 1932 in Swift County, Minnesota.  She was the daughter of Arthur and Ruth (Roisum) Tengwall.  She grew up on a farm in the Kerkhoven area, participated in school activities, and graduated from Kerkhoven High School in 1950.  Thereafter, she attended and graduated from the Minneapolis Business School with an Associate of Applied Business Degree.  Lila worked as a legal assistant and administrative assistant for a time, and later as a top stitcher making the finishing touches to coats and letter jackets.  However, Lila’s main and most fulfilling job was being a homemaker and a mom.

On June 28, 1952, Lila was united in marriage to the love of her life, James (Jim) Lundberg, at the West Lake Lutheran Church in Sunburg, Minnesota.  Lila and Jim were blessed with four children: Debra, Susan, Steven and Douglas.  Lila and Jim resided in Litchfield, Minnesota most of their lives, living on Lake Ripley.  Lila and Jim joined the First Presbyterian Church in Litchfield when they moved to Litchfield and Lila remained a member the rest of her life.

Lila was a warm, kind and caring soft spoken women who always found joy in life and who unconditionally loved her family, including family pets, and friends.  She was happiest spending time with Jim, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Lila was truly the glue that held the family together and kept it grounded and focused on the really important things in life – faith, family and friends.   She was a very good listener and always knew just what to say and when.  She was always supportive in just the right way.  Lila had a great sense of humor, a quick wit, a subtle little smile and a pleasant chuckle of a laugh.  Lila’s warmth and caring made the Lundberg home the place that many of the neighborhood kids and the children’s school friends wanted to spend time at.  All of these attributes made her a great wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma and an awesome friend. 

Lila enjoyed many activities and hobbies, including dining and dancing with Jim, having family and friends to the house.  Lila was a great cook and always made birthdays and holidays very special.  She enjoyed having family and friends over for picnics, barbeques, get-togethers, special occasions, and just for a cup of coffee. 

Lila also enjoyed snowmobiling with Jim in the years when Minnesota received plenty of snow, playing cards and the marble game, traveling, antiquing and flea-marketing looking for special dolls, Avon decanters and angels.    She loved animals and made sure her children had ponies, puppies and kittens in their lives.   Lila was an avid reader and a good sketcher, especially of horses, dogs and cats. 

Lila kept in touch with you with phone calls, cards that always contained a hand written note and often a small sketch, and care packages filled with baked goodies, small treasures and notes of love.  Lila touched so many with warmth, caring, friendship and love; she will be greatly missed here on earth.  However, the heavens are singing about Lila’s arrival.

Lila is survived by her children: Debra Swanson of Litchfield, MN; Susan Lundberg (Hank DeBragga) of Angier, NC; Steven Lundberg (Jennifer Jensen) of Baxter, MN; and Douglas Lundberg (Mary) of Litchfield, MN.  Grandchildren: Jason Swanson (Laura); Amber Swanson; Amy Knott (Mack); Evan Lundberg; Ashlee Osmundson (Michael); and Tanner Lundberg.  Great-Grandchildren: Lucy Swanson, William Swanson, Sophia Morales, Ava Morales, Lyla Knott and Everett Knott.  Four-legged furry grandchildren, Bailey and Kashi.  Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law, Jerry and Vi Lundberg, of Kerkhoven, MN.  Sisters-in-law Betty McDonnell of Willmar, MN and Colette Tengwall of Rogers, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

Lila is preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents, Arthur and Ruth Tengwall; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harold and Lily Lundberg; her five siblings: Elroy Tengwall, Delos Tengwall, Virgil Tengwall, Earl Tengwall and Marjorie Tengwall Shores; sister-in-law Judy Tengwall; brothers-in-law Roy Lesteberg and Earl McDonnell; nephew Roger Lesteberg; niece-in-law Leslie Tengwall; and the beloved family dog, Peanuts.

Following services at the cemetery, family and friends are invited to return to the church for a time of fellowship and lunch.  Those not going to the cemetery may go directly to the church basement, be served their lunch and await the return of the family.