Linda Lou Ann Stensrud Blaisdell, 79, Northfield

Linda Lou Ann (Stensrud) Blaisdell, 79, of Northfield, passed away Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, at home with her family by her side.
Born Feb.  21, 1941 in Kasson, to mother Frances (Stevenson) Stensrud and father Hilmen Stensrud, she was raised on the family farm in rural Kasson. She attended a one room country school, Dodge County District #34 School for seven years, and then graduated from Kasson-Mantorville High School in 1959.
She attended Gustavus Adolphus College and Rochester Community College and then was employed at First National Bank of Rochester for several years and Merchants National Bank of Winona.
Linda married Tom Blaisdell on June 15, 1963, at West St Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Kasson where Linda was also baptized and confirmed. They moved to Winona for several years before her husband accepted a teaching position in Dodge Center where they resided for 10 years, then moved to Northfield in 1975 where Tom accepted a position at “Northwestern National Bank.” 
In 1977, she and Tom, along with Linda and Jim Sawyer, purchased College City Beverage.
Linda loved her family and vast circle of friends and they all loved her more. She was salt of the earth. A kind, loving caring wife, sister, friend, mother and grandma who lived life to the fullest with no regrets.
She enjoyed travels which included Europe, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. One of her most enjoyable trips was to Norway with her sister and where she was able to visit with relatives and see the homes her grandparents immigrated from to Minnesota in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
Golf played a very important part in her life and she enjoyed the game immensely. She also enjoyed attending and cheering on her grandchildren in their sporting and school events. She also was a fan of the Northfield Raiders, the Twins, Vikings and Gophers and enjoyed bridge, book clubs as well as her Birthday Group and her church group. She was a charter member of WINGS, Northfield, and an active member of St Peter’s Lutheran Church in Northfield.
Linda has resided in Northfield until her death. She is survived by two children, Amy (Pete) Stauffer of Lakeville, Tim ( Lisa) Blaisdell of Lake Elmo; her son-in-law, Kent Storlie of Northfield; eight grandchildren, Paige, Quinn and Taylor Storlie, Mackenzie and Thomas Stauffer, Ella, Caden and Berkley Blaisdell; one sister, Karen (Dave) Schiotz; her brother-in-law, Joe (Judy) Blaisdell; her sister-in-law, Christine (Ron) Olson; nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her husband Tom in 1997 and her daughter Melissa Blaisdell Storlie in 2017.
Visitation will be 4 – 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, at the Bierman Funeral Home. Masks are required. Private funeral services will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. 
Pallbearers are her grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are Peter Stauffer, Kent Storlie, Dave Schiotz, Joe Blaisdell, Ron Olson and Larry Hoffman. Memorials are preferred to Northfield Hospice.
Arrangements are with the Bierman Funeral Home, www.biermanfuneralhome.com.