Margaret LaVerne Lindholm

Margaret LaVerne Lindholm passed away in Ely on May 20, 2026, at Boundary Waters Care Center.

Margaret “LaVerne” was born in Winton on May 25, 1931, to Lars and Olga Anderson. LaVerne attended Ely schools until the age of 16, when her parents moved the family back to Sweden. They remained in Sweden for a year before returning to Minnesota and settling in Two Harbors.

LaVerne graduated from Two Harbors High School in 1950, where she earned athletic letters in basketball and volleyball. It was in Two Harbors that she met Robert “Bob” Lindholm. They were united in marriage on May 26, 1951, at Two Harbors Lutheran Church. After living in Two Harbors and later Virginia, Minnesota, they settled in Ely in 1962.

LaVerne devoted herself to raising four children and caring for her family as a dedicated homemaker. She was deeply involved in Ely United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir, served on numerous church committees, helped make pasties and cardamom biscuits, and volunteered at nursing home Sunday services. She also delivered Meals on Wheels.

LaVerne and Bob especially enjoyed spending late July days in the woods gathering blueberries from their favorite secret patches. They also cherished numerous bus tours, including trips to Branson, and several visits with relatives in Sweden.

LaVerne is survived by her children: Robert (Jeanne), Larry (DeeAnn), Julie (Marty) Ericson, Joan (Dan) Dagger, and “inherited daughter” Pam Loe Turnbull; eight grandchildren: Jessica, Rebecca, Joshua, Kelsey, Kristina, Ryan, Jordan, and Kailee; seven great-grandchildren, with an eighth expected in July; her sister and brother-in-law Pat (Chuck) Blair; brothers and sister-in-law Art (Dolly) Anderson and Norman Anderson; sisters-in-law Lois Johnson and Ruth Erickson; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her infant brother Dickie; her parents, Lars and Olga Anderson; her husband, Robert Lindholm; her parents-in-law, Evald and Selma Lindholm; her sister and brother-in-law Violet (Shorty) Melovasich; sisters and brothers-in-law Pauline (Clark) McCutchen, John Erickson, Lucille Lindholm, Anne Smith, and Ed Johnson; and nieces Denise Carey and Cheryl Klun.

LaVerne's Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 11 a.m. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service and a luncheon will follow the service. 

In lieu of flowers,  please make a donation to the American Diabetes Association or the charity of your choice. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely, MN.

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