Elois Claire Lodahl Baldridge gently passed away just before the sunrise of June 8, 2023, with family holding her hand. Her wish to see another spring emerge over the waters of Stone Lake from her home of 75 years was fulfilled. Elois was 95 years old.
Elois (pronounced "E-Loyce") was born in June 1928 in Fargo, North Dakota, the second daughter of Nora Evelyn (Amundson) and Arthur Lodahl. She was proudly Norwegian on both sides. She married Clifford (Cliff) James Baldridge in December 1946 in a driving snowstorm at Grace Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Elois first came to Stone Lake when she and three of her high school friends were given a graduation gift of spending a week in the summer of 1945 at the former boxing camp located on Little Sissabagama Lake. One of her friends' mothers was an acquaintance of Josephine Ogren, whose husband, Karl, a boxing champion from Sweden, operated the camp. While in Stone Lake, Elois met her future husband, Cliff.
Elois was a world-class mom to two sons, Kelly and Craig. She was also a sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt who loved her family. She introduced her St. Paul family to the Stone Lake area and hosted countless family gatherings on the shores of Stone Lake for picnics, swimming, water skiing, fishing and water games that went on forever.
Elois graduated from Mechanic Arts high school located near the Minnesota capitol in 1944. She previously was able to skip a grade so that she could graduate with her beloved older sister, Eunice. Elois and Eunice were especially close as sisters and friends due to a difficult family situation that was increased in the time of the Great Depression. It was a time of scarce money, jobs and, as Elois put it, "radish and white bread sandwiches." Tragically, Eunice passed away in December 1974 of brain cancer at the age of 47.
Elois worked at Buerkle Buick in St. Paul while in high school. After she was married at the age of 18-½ and her sons were born in 1947 and 1949, she worked as a stay-at-home mom raising her kids until she rejoined the outside working world. She began work at the newly formed radio station, WHSM in Hayward, Wisconsin, in the 1960s as a secretary. Soon she was writing advertisements and became the first female voice on the radio station, as she participated in the morning show. She left WHSM to become the administrative assistant to two successive Hayward Community Schools superintendents over a period of 10 years. Her final jobs were as the business office manager for Kronlund and then Link Brothers automobile dealerships. She retired in the 1990s.
Elois was a fabulous cook and baker who filled the house with the aromas of fresh-baked bread, cookies and cakes. But her specialty was apple pie, which had a melt-in-your-mouth flaky crust that had a not-so-secret ingredient — love. Elois was a creative seamstress who made many of her own clothes, a knitter of sweaters and blankets and needlepoint creations. Her masterpiece is a Yo Yo spread that she began in 1949 and finally finished in 2000.
Elois was an excellent athlete, especially as a swimmer and water skier. She also gamely took up snow skiing when the family became involved, as the result of skis for Christmas gifts to her sons. And she always made the best lunches for the midday break. Her adventurous spirit helped her to endure two-week-long family canoe trips to the Minnesota Boundary Waters, even though this was not her first choice for a summer vacation.
Elois loved to dance, and she insisted on teaching her husband, Cliff. They became excellent polka and old-time dancers and were never happier than they were on the dance floor at venues such as The Smith Lake Pavilion in Hayward. She also had a wonderful singing voice; choir was one of her favorite activities in high school. There will always be memories of her singing and humming as she did her work around the house.
In her retirement years, Elois always kept Monday mornings prominently marked on her calendar. Monday mornings was when her "coffee friends" met, mostly at The Loon Café, for conversation, laughter and camaraderie. She cherished these times and had a very special place in her heart for these women who enhanced her life so much.
Elois was and will continue to be a role model who led a full life as a strong and independent woman with diverse talents. She will be missed by her family and friends but will always be in our hearts and memories.
Well done, good and faithful servant: Matthew 25:23
Elois is survived by her sons, Craig Baldridge of Stone Lake, WI, and Kelly (Laura) of Madison, WI; four grandchildren: Laura Wright of Paso Robles, CA, Jeffrey Baldridge of Madison, WI, Justin (Cheyenne) Baldridge of La Crosse, WI, and Jennifer (Jeff) Tolzmann of Onalaska, WI; one sister Karen (Norman) Anderson of Hudson, WI; two brothers: Allan (Millie) Lodahl of Hudson, WI, and Arthur James (Joan) Lodahl of Duluth, MN; three great-grandchildren: Archer and Mabel Tolzmann and Eloise Baldridge; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Baldridge, her sister Eunice Mae Lodahl Steinberg and her parents.
- Spooner Advocate; Spooner, Wisconsin; Monday, 19 June 2023
Elois (pronounced "E-Loyce") was born in June 1928 in Fargo, North Dakota, the second daughter of Nora Evelyn (Amundson) and Arthur Lodahl. She was proudly Norwegian on both sides. She married Clifford (Cliff) James Baldridge in December 1946 in a driving snowstorm at Grace Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Elois first came to Stone Lake when she and three of her high school friends were given a graduation gift of spending a week in the summer of 1945 at the former boxing camp located on Little Sissabagama Lake. One of her friends' mothers was an acquaintance of Josephine Ogren, whose husband, Karl, a boxing champion from Sweden, operated the camp. While in Stone Lake, Elois met her future husband, Cliff.
Elois was a world-class mom to two sons, Kelly and Craig. She was also a sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt who loved her family. She introduced her St. Paul family to the Stone Lake area and hosted countless family gatherings on the shores of Stone Lake for picnics, swimming, water skiing, fishing and water games that went on forever.
Elois graduated from Mechanic Arts high school located near the Minnesota capitol in 1944. She previously was able to skip a grade so that she could graduate with her beloved older sister, Eunice. Elois and Eunice were especially close as sisters and friends due to a difficult family situation that was increased in the time of the Great Depression. It was a time of scarce money, jobs and, as Elois put it, "radish and white bread sandwiches." Tragically, Eunice passed away in December 1974 of brain cancer at the age of 47.
Elois worked at Buerkle Buick in St. Paul while in high school. After she was married at the age of 18-½ and her sons were born in 1947 and 1949, she worked as a stay-at-home mom raising her kids until she rejoined the outside working world. She began work at the newly formed radio station, WHSM in Hayward, Wisconsin, in the 1960s as a secretary. Soon she was writing advertisements and became the first female voice on the radio station, as she participated in the morning show. She left WHSM to become the administrative assistant to two successive Hayward Community Schools superintendents over a period of 10 years. Her final jobs were as the business office manager for Kronlund and then Link Brothers automobile dealerships. She retired in the 1990s.
Elois was a fabulous cook and baker who filled the house with the aromas of fresh-baked bread, cookies and cakes. But her specialty was apple pie, which had a melt-in-your-mouth flaky crust that had a not-so-secret ingredient — love. Elois was a creative seamstress who made many of her own clothes, a knitter of sweaters and blankets and needlepoint creations. Her masterpiece is a Yo Yo spread that she began in 1949 and finally finished in 2000.
Elois was an excellent athlete, especially as a swimmer and water skier. She also gamely took up snow skiing when the family became involved, as the result of skis for Christmas gifts to her sons. And she always made the best lunches for the midday break. Her adventurous spirit helped her to endure two-week-long family canoe trips to the Minnesota Boundary Waters, even though this was not her first choice for a summer vacation.
Elois loved to dance, and she insisted on teaching her husband, Cliff. They became excellent polka and old-time dancers and were never happier than they were on the dance floor at venues such as The Smith Lake Pavilion in Hayward. She also had a wonderful singing voice; choir was one of her favorite activities in high school. There will always be memories of her singing and humming as she did her work around the house.
In her retirement years, Elois always kept Monday mornings prominently marked on her calendar. Monday mornings was when her "coffee friends" met, mostly at The Loon Café, for conversation, laughter and camaraderie. She cherished these times and had a very special place in her heart for these women who enhanced her life so much.
Elois was and will continue to be a role model who led a full life as a strong and independent woman with diverse talents. She will be missed by her family and friends but will always be in our hearts and memories.
Well done, good and faithful servant: Matthew 25:23
Elois is survived by her sons, Craig Baldridge of Stone Lake, WI, and Kelly (Laura) of Madison, WI; four grandchildren: Laura Wright of Paso Robles, CA, Jeffrey Baldridge of Madison, WI, Justin (Cheyenne) Baldridge of La Crosse, WI, and Jennifer (Jeff) Tolzmann of Onalaska, WI; one sister Karen (Norman) Anderson of Hudson, WI; two brothers: Allan (Millie) Lodahl of Hudson, WI, and Arthur James (Joan) Lodahl of Duluth, MN; three great-grandchildren: Archer and Mabel Tolzmann and Eloise Baldridge; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Baldridge, her sister Eunice Mae Lodahl Steinberg and her parents.
- Spooner Advocate; Spooner, Wisconsin; Monday, 19 June 2023
Elois Claire Lodahl Baldridge gently passed away just before the sunrise of June 8, 2023, with family holding her hand. Her wish to see another spring emerge over the waters of Stone Lake from her home of 75 years was fulfilled. Elois was 95 years old.
Elois (pronounced "E-Loyce") was born in June 1928 in Fargo, North Dakota, the second daughter of Nora Evelyn (Amundson) and Arthur Lodahl. She was proudly Norwegian on both sides. She married Clifford (Cliff) James Baldridge in December 1946 in a driving snowstorm at Grace Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Elois first came to Stone Lake when she and three of her high school friends were given a graduation gift of spending a week in the summer of 1945 at the former boxing camp located on Little Sissabagama Lake. One of her friends' mothers was an acquaintance of Josephine Ogren, whose husband, Karl, a boxing champion from Sweden, operated the camp. While in Stone Lake, Elois met her future husband, Cliff.
Elois was a world-class mom to two sons, Kelly and Craig. She was also a sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt who loved her family. She introduced her St. Paul family to the Stone Lake area and hosted countless family gatherings on the shores of Stone Lake for picnics, swimming, water skiing, fishing and water games that went on forever.
Elois graduated from Mechanic Arts high school located near the Minnesota capitol in 1944. She previously was able to skip a grade so that she could graduate with her beloved older sister, Eunice. Elois and Eunice were especially close as sisters and friends due to a difficult family situation that was increased in the time of the Great Depression. It was a time of scarce money, jobs and, as Elois put it, "radish and white bread sandwiches." Tragically, Eunice passed away in December 1974 of brain cancer at the age of 47.
Elois worked at Buerkle Buick in St. Paul while in high school. After she was married at the age of 18-½ and her sons were born in 1947 and 1949, she worked as a stay-at-home mom raising her kids until she rejoined the outside working world. She began work at the newly formed radio station, WHSM in Hayward, Wisconsin, in the 1960s as a secretary. Soon she was writing advertisements and became the first female voice on the radio station, as she participated in the morning show. She left WHSM to become the administrative assistant to two successive Hayward Community Schools superintendents over a period of 10 years. Her final jobs were as the business office manager for Kronlund and then Link Brothers automobile dealerships. She retired in the 1990s.
Elois was a fabulous cook and baker who filled the house with the aromas of fresh-baked bread, cookies and cakes. But her specialty was apple pie, which had a melt-in-your-mouth flaky crust that had a not-so-secret ingredient — love. Elois was a creative seamstress who made many of her own clothes, a knitter of sweaters and blankets and needlepoint creations. Her masterpiece is a Yo Yo spread that she began in 1949 and finally finished in 2000.
Elois was an excellent athlete, especially as a swimmer and water skier. She also gamely took up snow skiing when the family became involved, as the result of skis for Christmas gifts to her sons. And she always made the best lunches for the midday break. Her adventurous spirit helped her to endure two-week-long family canoe trips to the Minnesota Boundary Waters, even though this was not her first choice for a summer vacation.
Elois loved to dance, and she insisted on teaching her husband, Cliff. They became excellent polka and old-time dancers and were never happier than they were on the dance floor at venues such as The Smith Lake Pavilion in Hayward. She also had a wonderful singing voice; choir was one of her favorite activities in high school. There will always be memories of her singing and humming as she did her work around the house.
In her retirement years, Elois always kept Monday mornings prominently marked on her calendar. Monday mornings was when her "coffee friends" met, mostly at The Loon Café, for conversation, laughter and camaraderie. She cherished these times and had a very special place in her heart for these women who enhanced her life so much.
Elois was and will continue to be a role model who led a full life as a strong and independent woman with diverse talents. She will be missed by her family and friends but will always be in our hearts and memories.
Well done, good and faithful servant: Matthew 25:23
Elois is survived by her sons, Craig Baldridge of Stone Lake, WI, and Kelly (Laura) of Madison, WI; four grandchildren: Laura Wright of Paso Robles, CA, Jeffrey Baldridge of Madison, WI, Justin (Cheyenne) Baldridge of La Crosse, WI, and Jennifer (Jeff) Tolzmann of Onalaska, WI; one sister Karen (Norman) Anderson of Hudson, WI; two brothers: Allan (Millie) Lodahl of Hudson, WI, and Arthur James (Joan) Lodahl of Duluth, MN; three great-grandchildren: Archer and Mabel Tolzmann and Eloise Baldridge; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Baldridge, her sister Eunice Mae Lodahl Steinberg and her parents.
- Spooner Advocate; Spooner, Wisconsin; Monday, 19 June 2023
Elois (pronounced "E-Loyce") was born in June 1928 in Fargo, North Dakota, the second daughter of Nora Evelyn (Amundson) and Arthur Lodahl. She was proudly Norwegian on both sides. She married Clifford (Cliff) James Baldridge in December 1946 in a driving snowstorm at Grace Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Elois first came to Stone Lake when she and three of her high school friends were given a graduation gift of spending a week in the summer of 1945 at the former boxing camp located on Little Sissabagama Lake. One of her friends' mothers was an acquaintance of Josephine Ogren, whose husband, Karl, a boxing champion from Sweden, operated the camp. While in Stone Lake, Elois met her future husband, Cliff.
Elois was a world-class mom to two sons, Kelly and Craig. She was also a sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt who loved her family. She introduced her St. Paul family to the Stone Lake area and hosted countless family gatherings on the shores of Stone Lake for picnics, swimming, water skiing, fishing and water games that went on forever.
Elois graduated from Mechanic Arts high school located near the Minnesota capitol in 1944. She previously was able to skip a grade so that she could graduate with her beloved older sister, Eunice. Elois and Eunice were especially close as sisters and friends due to a difficult family situation that was increased in the time of the Great Depression. It was a time of scarce money, jobs and, as Elois put it, "radish and white bread sandwiches." Tragically, Eunice passed away in December 1974 of brain cancer at the age of 47.
Elois worked at Buerkle Buick in St. Paul while in high school. After she was married at the age of 18-½ and her sons were born in 1947 and 1949, she worked as a stay-at-home mom raising her kids until she rejoined the outside working world. She began work at the newly formed radio station, WHSM in Hayward, Wisconsin, in the 1960s as a secretary. Soon she was writing advertisements and became the first female voice on the radio station, as she participated in the morning show. She left WHSM to become the administrative assistant to two successive Hayward Community Schools superintendents over a period of 10 years. Her final jobs were as the business office manager for Kronlund and then Link Brothers automobile dealerships. She retired in the 1990s.
Elois was a fabulous cook and baker who filled the house with the aromas of fresh-baked bread, cookies and cakes. But her specialty was apple pie, which had a melt-in-your-mouth flaky crust that had a not-so-secret ingredient — love. Elois was a creative seamstress who made many of her own clothes, a knitter of sweaters and blankets and needlepoint creations. Her masterpiece is a Yo Yo spread that she began in 1949 and finally finished in 2000.
Elois was an excellent athlete, especially as a swimmer and water skier. She also gamely took up snow skiing when the family became involved, as the result of skis for Christmas gifts to her sons. And she always made the best lunches for the midday break. Her adventurous spirit helped her to endure two-week-long family canoe trips to the Minnesota Boundary Waters, even though this was not her first choice for a summer vacation.
Elois loved to dance, and she insisted on teaching her husband, Cliff. They became excellent polka and old-time dancers and were never happier than they were on the dance floor at venues such as The Smith Lake Pavilion in Hayward. She also had a wonderful singing voice; choir was one of her favorite activities in high school. There will always be memories of her singing and humming as she did her work around the house.
In her retirement years, Elois always kept Monday mornings prominently marked on her calendar. Monday mornings was when her "coffee friends" met, mostly at The Loon Café, for conversation, laughter and camaraderie. She cherished these times and had a very special place in her heart for these women who enhanced her life so much.
Elois was and will continue to be a role model who led a full life as a strong and independent woman with diverse talents. She will be missed by her family and friends but will always be in our hearts and memories.
Well done, good and faithful servant: Matthew 25:23
Elois is survived by her sons, Craig Baldridge of Stone Lake, WI, and Kelly (Laura) of Madison, WI; four grandchildren: Laura Wright of Paso Robles, CA, Jeffrey Baldridge of Madison, WI, Justin (Cheyenne) Baldridge of La Crosse, WI, and Jennifer (Jeff) Tolzmann of Onalaska, WI; one sister Karen (Norman) Anderson of Hudson, WI; two brothers: Allan (Millie) Lodahl of Hudson, WI, and Arthur James (Joan) Lodahl of Duluth, MN; three great-grandchildren: Archer and Mabel Tolzmann and Eloise Baldridge; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Baldridge, her sister Eunice Mae Lodahl Steinberg and her parents.
- Spooner Advocate; Spooner, Wisconsin; Monday, 19 June 2023
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