Kathleen Streed)

Kathleen Harriet Alden (nee Streed)

With great sadness, we share the passing of Kathleen Harriet Alden at age 99 on July 31, 2014. Kathleen was born July 20, 1915, in Frederic, WI, the oldest child of Cecelia Catherine (nee Vogel) Streed and Victor Alexander Streed, and a 1932 graduate of Frederic High School. Her closest companions throughout life were her younger sisters and brother, Janet, Evelyn, Leone, Myrtle, and Douglas. Kathleen married Clifford Oscar Alden on November 20, 1933. They began their married life in Frederic, WI, in a humble dwelling dubbed "Owl's Hill Mansion" while clearing and milling lumber on their land to build a farmstead. They acquired the International Harvester dealership in Frederic in 1945 and moved into town the following year. In addition to caring for a growing, lively family of five children, Kathleen provided bookkeeping services for the local retail store, Hagberg's, and derived great satisfaction participating in the local Quilting Club, St. Luke's Methodist Church, and its affiliated Women's Club.

In 1957, Kathleen and Cliff moved their family to Lindstrom, MN, where Cliff became a valued cabinetmaker and Kathleen provided baking services for sister Evelyn's Rainbow Café. Over the following years, she provided bookkeeping services for the Charles Sundberg Real Estate & Insurance Agency, Carlson's department store, and the Chisago County Treasurer's Department, all the while raising their family and continuing her service to the community and First United Methodist Church. Her beloved husband, Cliff, died in 1982. In the early 1990s, Kathleen moved to Newport, MN, to be nearer her children. She resided with her daughter, Janice, since 1999, until her final weeks this summer at Woodbury Senior Living.

Kathleen was devoted and loving to her husband, children, grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews, and friends. Kathleen was outwardly modest, yet quite extraordinary within. She was a voracious reader and her curiosity about the world never diminished. She remained constant in the study of holistic health care and theology. She was very resourceful and accomplished. Many have been blessed by her countless talents, be it baking, cooking, gardening, canning, sewing, knitting, crocheting, upholstering, painting, wood refinishing, bookkeeping, teaching, and piano. She was an avid game player and enjoyed traveling with family and special friends. Her faith, energy, integrity, and generosity served as her life foundation, earning countless friends and admirers through her quiet but confident ways. We will miss her twinkling brown eyes, incredible spirit, dignity, sense of humor, and all-encompassing love. Her beautiful light has been removed from us, but she will be forever treasured in our hearts and minds.

Kathleen is preceded in death by husband, Clifford Oscar Alden; sisters, Janet (Vernal) Froberg, Evelyn (Elmer) Rudquist - (Terry) Johnston, Leone (Raymond) Alden, and Myrtle (Floyd) Melander; granddaughter, Jacquelyn Lee (nee Roden) Young; sister-in-law, Dorothy Ann Streed; and daughter-in-law, June Marie Alden. She is survived by her children, Janice LaRae (Robert) Anderson of Newport, MN, Kent Clifford Alden of Chisago City, MN, Peggy Kay Murray of Cincinnati, OH, Karen Kristine (William) Veeneman of Hudson, WI, and Kathleen "Kathy" Michele Alden of New Brighton, MN; ten grandchildren, Thomas Roden, Corey Alden, Casey Alden, William Murray, Elizabeth Murray, Paul Veeneman, Kathleen Veeneman, Anna Veeneman, Alyssa McManus, and Dana Mortenson; sixteen great-grandchildren; and two great-great granddaughters; brother, Dr. Douglas Vogel Streed; and loving nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Join her family in celebrating her life at Parkview United Church of Christ, 3737 Bellaire Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN. Visitation 4-8 PM, Thursday, August 7, 2014, and funeral service 11:00 AM, Friday, August 8, 2014, at the church. Private interment at Maple Grove Cemetery, Frederic, WI.

Memorials preferred; all donations will be given to Kathleen's favorite charities as shown below:

UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)

www.umcor.org

To donate by phone: 1-888-252-6174

UMCOR is a nonprofit organization dedicated to humanitarian relief in the U.S. and more than 80 countries. UMCOR spends 100% of designated donations on the projects our donors specify.

OR

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare

www.gillettechildrens.org

651-291-2848

Gillette Children's St. Paul, MN, hospital and Minnesota clinics provide specialized care annually for 25, 000 children, teens, and adults with disabilities and complex conditions.