Loretta Gale (Westling) Westerlund

Loretta Gale Westerlund, 94, of Glen, passed away Wednesday, January 14, 2026 in Rivers Edge Assisted Living, Aitkin.  She was born September 11, 1931 in Glen Township to Magnus and Eva (Davis) Westling.

Loretta Westerlund grew up in Glen Township.  She attended the Clear Lake School for 8 years walking to school or by horse and sleigh.  She then attended High School in Aitkin the "Class of 1949".  During her High School years, she worked for a time at Carlsona Beach Resort, Malmo Bay Resort, and Ziske's Grocery.

In 1951 she moved to MPLS and worked for 5 years mostly at Western Electric (her dream job) repairing telephones, switchboards and creating posters for the company with her artistic talent.

 In 1956 she flew to Anchorage, Alaska and married Willard Westerlund on July 2, 1956.  She spent part of the next 2 years there coming home on the Alaskan Highway, staying in roadhouses along the way from when the road was built.  

 After settling back in Minnesota, where they raised their four children, they made their home in Malmo for 9 years and then the big move to Glen for the rest of their days.  Westerlund Sawmill began, of which Loretta did the bookwork for many years. 

Loretta served 20 years on the Township Board and was a member of the Glen Homemakers Club for many years.  Loretta and Willard enjoyed many "Road-Trips" to Washington State and many other places to visit family and friends.

 Loretta had a quiet strength.  She loved her family, especially her grandkids and great grandkids.

Loretta had many talents and hobbies: counted cross stitch, sewing - quilts - clothing (pj’s for the grandkids), knitting, rosemaling, woodworking, reading, puzzles; gardening, cross-country skiing, biking, bowling back in the day, and anything to do with nature.

Loretta is preceded in death by her husband, Willard; her parents; grandson, Adam Ritter; sisters, Darlene Sherrard and Verna Doyle; brother, Duane Westling.

Loretta is survived by 4 children, Jeffrey (Kim) Westerlund of Aitkin, Chad (Joy) Westerlund of Aitkin, Shawn (Lisa) Westerlund of Aitkin and Pamela (David) Hoover of McGregor; grandchildren, Cameron (Rhiannon), Eric, Shannon (Scott), Chelaci, Aspen, Paige (Luke), Jake, Sidney, Jessica (Steve), Breanne (Rob), Sara and Jenny (Nick); great grandchildren, Aubrey, Soren, Shelby, Ibn, Hudson, Bristol, Sydney, Lauren, Sienna, Vanek, Henrik, Piper and Parker; sister, Sandra (Allen) Pearson; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be Friday, April 17 at 11 AM in Bethesda Lutheran Church, Malmo.  Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be in Malmo Cemetery.  To leave a message of condolence, please visit: www.srtfuneral.com.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Aitkin.

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