Eloise Mae Pass

Eloise was born to Obed and Mable Nordlie on May 19, 1929. Next to be born was her sister Carol (Trelstad) and they became very close throughout their lives. The Nordlies were a farming family. Eloise and Carol were always proud of their farming, but not so fond of chores like milking cows, gathering eggs, and shoveling out the barn.

Both Eloise and Carol attended school at a local one room schoolhouse for grades 1-8. During winter storms, Obed would take them to school with a horse and sleigh. Eloise attended Augustana Academy in Canton for grades 9-12 where she graduated Valedictorian and Salutatorian for all the county schools. She went on to attend Augustana Normal School where she earned a teaching certificate. When an elementary school teaching position opened in Petersburg, MN, Eloise gladly took the job.

Not long after she moved to Petersburg, she caught the eye and heart of Roman “Bud” Pass, a local shopkeeper. They pair quickly became a hot item. When the Korean War broke out, the Army Reserves pulled Bud back in for 11 months. It was hard on Eloise, but Bud made it home safely and the two were happily married at Lands Church near the family farm after his return.

Eloise and Bud continued to run the Petersburg Farm Store and Post Office will raising their three sons, Mark, Fred, and Carl. With four men in the house, Eloise wished for another girl to keep her company. She and Bud decided to adopt. A baby girl became available in Iowa, but when the day came to go get her, a massive ice storm came, making the roads dangerous. When Bud said that it would be wise to postpone, Eloise replied, “I’m going if I have to drive there myself” and they made the trip. Their new addition was named Kristi. The two became very close, which lasted the rest of Eloise’s life.

When a job opening for Bud became available in Duluth in 1971, Bud and Eloise closed the Petersburg Farm Store and moved the family to Esko, Minnesota. She continued her teaching education at UMD. She taught 1st grade at Fredenburg and then Hermantown schools until retirement in 1991. For many years they wintered at a house in Sun City, Arizona, where they had a thriving social community.

Eloise was always known for being hardworking, dedicated to her church, proud of her Norwegian heritage and devoted to Bud and the rest of the family. She loved her grandchildren, including reading to them, and having them for overnight stays. She led by example for how to live a good life: making sure that others were happy and loved. She often shared her cooking and baking skills with family and friends, including excelling at making pies of all types from scratch. Music was important to her, whether playing her baby grand piano at home, organs at churches, or nights out with Bud to classic music concerts.

Eloise is survived by children, Mark (Sue) Pass, Frederic (Angie) Pass, Carl (Elizabeth) Jacobs-Pass, Kristi (Brant) Deppa; and grandchildren, Jessica (Steve), Emma (Julio Gonzalez), Bjorn, Meagan (Cody), Madeline, and Daniel. She is survived by great-grandchildren, Kiana (Cole), Cayden, and Arianna, and a great-great grandson, Lennon. Eloise is preceded in death by her husband, Roman in 2017; and grandson, Michael Pass.

The family would like to thank the staff at Ecumen Lakeshore for the gentle and loving care given to Eloise.

Visitation will be Saturday, November 1st at 10am at Gloria Dei Lutheran church. Funeral service will be at 11AM. 219 Nth 6th St, Duluth, MN, 55805. Memorials preferred to Gloria Dei Music Fund.