Mildred G. Fortun

Mildred “Millie” Geneva Fortun died Wednesday morning, August 26, 2015. She was born on December 15, 1915 on the Fjelstad Farm on Nash Ridge rural Ferryville, Crawford County, WI, the fourth of ten children born to Wilhelm and Elsie Mary (Bolstad) Fjelstad. Mildred grew up on the family farm and attended the rural elementary school. She was baptized and confirmed at Freeman Lutheran Church. She graduated from Viroqua High School, Normal Teachers College in 1935 and taught school at Oak Ridge, receiving many honor certificates for her teaching. She loved her work of teaching children. On September 30, 1939 she married Alvin Fortun and they farmed in Crawford County. They later had two children, Eleanor and Donald. Due to her husband Alvin’s health, they moved to La Crosse in 1945. She later was employed at Modern Dry Cleaners as a Seamstress for about 20 years before retiring. She loved the outdoors, especially her vegetable and flower gardens. Being a great cook, she had many dinners for her family and friends. Her specialties were her pies and cookies. She loved to sew PJs and quilts for her grandchildren. Alvin and Millie were faithful members of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, where she was a member of the quilting group and the Dorcas Society. She and Alvin traveled a lot to special places in the states, Washington D.C., Carolina, and Florida etc. She loved going on motor home camping picnics, boating, and fishing. After Alvin passed, she came to live with her daughter Eleanor for about 21 years. Later, in the last 2 years, her health declined where she then entered the Hillview Health Care Center in September of 2013 until she passed away.
She is survived by one daughter Eleanor Richards, a daughter in-law Marge Fortun, sister in-law Elaine Fjelstad, grandchildren; Kelly (Michelle) Richards, Kimberly Richards Marquez, Debra Richards (Jim Marcus), David (Luci) Richards, Terri (Fred) Goettl, Tony Fortun, Don Jr. (Raquel) Fortun, great-grandchildren; Ian Richards, Dylan Richards, Jessica (Casey) Jeffers, Karina Richards (Chris Johnson), Jennifer (Chris) Albrecht, Dawn Schmidt, Ella Fortun, Emma Fortun, Cruz Marquez, great-great-grandchildren; Mary Jeffers, Haylie Schmidt, Hunter Ickler, Elli Albrecht, Luke Albrecht. She is preceded in death by her husband Alvin, son Donald Fortun, son-in-law Myles Richards, four sisters and five brothers.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 28, 2015 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 612 Division St., La Crosse. Rev. Dr. Mark Jolivette will officiate. Burial will follow in the Mormon Coulee Memorial Park. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 10 AM until the time of service. Schumacher –Kish Funeral & Cremation Services, La Crosse Chapel is assisting the family.