Lily Abbie Skoglund

Lily Abbie Skoglund, 89, of Ericsburg, passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at the Little Fork Care Center.
She was born in International Falls on May 9, 1933, to Wallace Kucera Sr. and Marie (Ballard) Kucera.
Being the oldest of 13 children, as she was growing up, she watched her siblings and helped with the cooking, baking, sewing, and gardening. On Sundays, she and her siblings walked or got a ride from the missionaries to the Ericsburg Mission Church where they learned many gospel songs and strengthened their faith.
Lily was involved in 4-H, and in high school she won a trip to the State Fair for receiving the highest awards in the categories of sewing and in the title of "Health Queen." In her golden years, she would often say, "I wonder what ever happened to that Health Queen?" That would make her family chuckle!
In 1951, Lily graduated from Falls High School. She worked at J.C. Penny until she married the love of her life, Walter Skoglund, on August 15, 1953. They moved to Oceana, Virginia, to the naval base where Walt continued his service in the Navy. There she found a job working at the soda counter in a local drugstore. When Walt received an honorable discharge from the Navy, they came back to International Falls. They had four children: Darrell Wayne, Anna, Michael, and Pete. They moved back to their hometown of Ericsburg to raise their family. Lily always said, "he got across the field, and I got across the river" to describe how closely they lived to the homes in which they were both raised.
As the grandchildren came, she would say, "I know babies!" Along with her own, she took a job watching the neighbor's children where she was known as "Grandma Lil'."
Even though Lily's memory had faded with time, it amazed us all how she could recite many nursery songs, gospel music, and songs from the 50's word for word, putting smiles on many faces. She could also tell many stories of her childhood days including when they first got electricity when she was 11 and how at a young age, she learned to drive a tractor to help on the farm.
Lily was preceded in death by her parents: Wallace and Marie Kucera Sr.: husband: Walter Skoglund, father-in-law: Waldemar Skoglund, mother-in-law: Signe Skoglund, sons: infant Darrell Wayne and Michael, brothers: Wally Kucera, Leonard (Carol Ann) Kucera, Joe (Renate) Kucera, and infant Hemme Kucera, sisters: Lorraine Klumpp, Marie (Arnie) Solo, and June Smart, and brothers-in-law: Lanny Skoglund, Dennis Solo and Tommy Stewart.
She is survived by her daughter: Anna (James) Frick, son: Pete (Janet) Skoglund, daughter-in-law: Lisa Skoglund, sisters: Carole Solo Meyers (Mitch), and Ruth Stewart, brothers: Chris (Bobbie) Kucera, Jim (Char) Kucera, and Bill Kucera, brother-in-law: Eugene (Marlene) Skoglund, sister-in-law, Judy Skoglund, grandchildren: Rachel (Dan), Travis, Krista (Andrew), Aaron, (Abby), Jon (Larissa), Megan, Paul (Alaina), and Brooke (Taylor), and 6 great-grandchildren, plus numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
There will be a memorial service on July 1, 2023, at the Full Gospel Fellowship Church, 1530 6th Ave. West, Int'l Falls, MN, 56649. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. Service will be at 11:00 a.m.
Interment will be at the Ericsburg Cemetery at a later date.