Lorna M. Tenneson
Lorna Marie Tenneson, 78, of rural Blair, died Thursday, August 1, 2024, peacefully at her home.
Lorna was born January 27, 1946, to Lawrence and Florence (Simenson) Bergum of Blair. She attended Lakes Coulee Grade School and graduated from Blair High School in 1964.
Lorna was united in marriage to Robert B. Tenneson, August 8, 1964, at Fagernes Lutheran Church in rural Blair. Together, they had three daughters: Heidi, Holly and Paula.
Lorna attended Cosmetology School in Winona, MN, to obtain her cosmetology license. She briefly worked for Marion DeBoe in Blair before becoming a full-time farm wife.
Lorna and Robert farmed on Lorna’s home farm and in 1969, purchased the Nelson home farm. Both are Century Farms. Lorna and Bob milked cows, raised beef and cash cropped. After retiring from raising animals, they continued to cash crop, raising corn and soybeans. Many summers Bob and Lorna would take off on vacation with no real destination in mind — just grab a map and go.
Bob and Lorna loved to plan the routes for the annual Cheese Fest tractor ride. She and Bob would go for many drives planning the most scenic routes they could.
Lorna was a member of Fagernes Lutheran Church. She was also a founding lifetime member of the Blair FFA Alumni and attended many State Conventions, supporting and promoting the Blue and Gold. Lorna was instrumental in the FFA Alumni Cheese Fest stand, spending long hours dredging fresh cheese curds to fry. She also helped plan many other fund raisers for the FFA Alumni through the years. For many years, Lorna used her creative talents to create eye-catching floats for the FFA Alumni in the annual Blair Cheese Fest parade. Whether it be “Ole and Lena”, T-Rex or Aliens coming for the Blair cheese curds. In 1989, the State FFA Alumni Convention awarded Bob and Lorna for “In Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions”. In 1992, Lorna was awarded with Farm Wife-of-the-Year from WHTL radio station.
Lorna had a love for reading about aliens, ghosts, Bigfoot and unexplained phenomena, including visiting “Area 51” in Nevada.
In 1962, Lorna was crowned Blair Egg Festival Queen. Lorna was an active 4-H member in her youth and a leader as an adult. She spent many years assisting her daughters with their fair projects.
Lorna was an avid bowler and participated in many local, state and national tournaments. Lorna was very talented. She had a love for painting farm pictures, saw blades, milk cans, canvases and murals. Her talents were also well known for flowers, gardening and landscaping. She would spend hours picking rocks in the quarry to create rock flower beds around the farm.
Lorna could also be found in the kitchen making her famous “scalloped potatoes” for family holidays, weddings or numerous other family events. In recent years, she could be seen recording pull distances in the Blair Cheese Fest announcing stand, both Friday and Saturday night, for the truck and tractor pull.
Lorna is survived by her daughters: Heidi (Rollie) Kube of Galesville, Holly (Paul) Haug of Whitehall and Paula (Wayne) Hoem of Taylor; eight grandchildren: Robert (Chelsey) Kube, Gregory Kube, Jorgen Haug, Justin (Noelle) Haug, Kristy (Dillon) Sylla, Katie (Keith) Mosier, Nicole Glasspoole and Mikayla (Ryan) Quarne; two step-granddaughters: Cindy (Jacob) Thompson and Jessi Haug; 11 great-grandchildren (one more due in December); a sister, Judy (Jay) Betker of Blair; a special nephew, Matthew Betker; many other nieces and nephews and special family friends: Lynn Axness and Roger (Beverly) Nelson; three brothers-in-law: Wallace Everson of Hixton, Harold Tenneson of Ettrick and Richard (Karen) Tenneson of Blair; and a sister-in-law, Rogee (John) Berg of McFarland.
In addition to her parents, Lorna was preceded in death by her husband, Robert (January 11, 2022); and a sister-in-law, Gloria Everson.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., at Fagernes Lutheran Church with burial in the church cemetery, both in rural Blair, with Pastor John Berg officiating. A lunch will follow at the new Preston Town Hall in Blair.
Visitation will be Friday, September 6, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Jack Funeral Home in Blair and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
