Elmira Verginia Brekke, 97

   Elmira Verginia Brekke, the daughter of the late Otto and Marie (Perleberg) Wollin, was born on July 1, 1914, at Hoffman, Minnesota.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.  The family moved to northern Minnesota when she was a young girl, first north of Greenbush, then near Donaldson, and finally to a farm east of Karlstad.  Elmira married Orton Brekke on October 2, 1948, at Pinewood, Minnesota,  by Rev. Kluver, who had been the minister at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Strandquist.  They resided  on the Brekke home place west of Strathcona until September of 1979, when they moved into Karlstad.  While on the farm, they worked together.  They were members of Gustav Adolph Lutheran Church in Strathcona where Elmira taught Sunday School and was active in the Ladies Aid.  After moving to Karlstad, she became a member of First Lutheran Church of Karlstad.  Elmira always loved cooking, baking and making quilts.  She worked at the former Karlstad Arctic Garment Factory  and also babysat for many families in Karlstad.  Orton passed away April 11, 1993, and Elmira continued to make her home in Karlstad until moving to LifeCare Greenbush Manor in June, 2010.  She passed away there on Saturday morning, November 5, 2011, at the age of 97 years, 4 months and 4 days.

   She is survived by one son: Terry (Virginia) Brekke, of Strathcona;  two grandsons: Duane (Nicole) and Jerry Brekke, both of Strathcona;  one great-granddaughter:  Jordyn; two sisters: Carmen Curtis, of Karlstad, and Florence Peterson, of White Bear Lake, MN.;  one brother: Bob (Betty) Wollin, of Greenbush; in addition to many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

   Elmira was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, three sisters: Mandeline Wollin, Mabel Sovde and Lorrayne Mortensen, and five brothers: Lawrence, Clarence, George, Willis and Harley.