Orlie Caroline Grant

Orlie Caroline Grant, age 95, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, August 19, 2024, at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie. Orlie was born December 16, 1928, in Austin, Minnesota, to Oliver and Clara (Lostegaard) Tollefson. Orlie attended a one room country school, District 79 in Mower County and graduated from Austin High School in 1946. She continued her education at Austin Technical College. On August 11, 1946, she married Lauren Grant at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church where she was a lifelong member. Their marriage was blessed with four children. She worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant and was a homemaker. 

Orlie was very active with her church and community. She held many officer positions at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church including Sunday School, WELCA, and church council. In addition, Orlie was the Council President of Mower County Home Extensions. She enjoyed traveling all around the United States and foreign countries, gardening, ceramics, crocheting, crafts, baking Norwegian goodies, and spending time with friends and family. For each member of her family she made a quilt, crocheted an afghan, made a beautiful pillow, and many other things out of love. Most of all she loved the memories made entertaining all of the holidays with her family; it always included serving traditional food, decorations, and enjoying each other’s company.

Orlie is survived by her sons, Daniel Grant of Owatonna, David (Sandra) Grant of Austin; grandchildren, Michelle (David) Johnson of Waltham, Milissia (Jason) Olberding of Lakeville, Jason Grant of Austin, Lee (fiancée Julie Schreiber) Grant of Austin, Eric (Kara) Grant of Austin, Angella (Bryan) Van Scharrell of Hitchcock, South Dakota, Jennifer Grant of Boulder, Colorado, Denise (Andy) Warta of Wheatfield, New York, Sarah (Martin) Jorgenson of Copenhagen, Denmark; great grandchildren, Tyler, Allison, Alexander, Emma, Andrew, Melanie, Alanna, Laura, Aiden, Ethan, Jonathan, Isaac, Jayven, Eliana, Adelyn, Rowan, Micah, Alexander and Emma; many great-great-grandchildren; and sister, Betty Ronningen. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lauren Grant; her parents, Oliver and Clara Tollefson; brother, Gaylord Tollefson; daughters, Caroline and Martha; her sisters, Frances Engen, and Diane Dodd; and brothers-in-law, Edward Engen and Bob Ronningen.

Orlie’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Prairie Manor Care Center and St. Croix Hospice for the wonderful care they gave to our mother.

A funeral service for Orlie will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 6, 2024, at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church in rural Austin. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Red Oak Grove Lutheran Cemetery in rural Austin. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Red Oak Grove Church, Red Oak Grove Cemetery, Prairie Manor Care Center, or St. Croix Hospice.