Ottilia "Tillie" Vickstrom

1931 - 2025

Ottilia "Tillie" M. Vickstrom, 93-year-old resident of Pierz, MN, passed away Thursday, January 2, 2025, at the Pierz Villa.

Funeral service held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls, at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Brandon Johnson officiating. Visitation held on Monday, January 6, 2025, at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Pierz, from 4:00-7:00 P.M. Visitation on Tuesday held at Zion Lutheran Church, from 10:00-11:00 A.M. Burial at the West Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Grove, MN. Caring for Tillie and her family is the LeMieur Funeral Homes of Pierz and Little Falls.

Ottilia "Tillie" Marie Senger was born on October 29, 1931 to the late Alois and Maria (Leonhart) Senger in Redwood Falls, MN. The family moved from Redwood Falls to Cedar, MN where Tillie and her siblings were raised on the family farm. Tillie and her sister, Rosie went to school in Cedar, MN. She and Rosie would bring home English literature to teach their parents how to speak English. Her parents only spoke German. Tillie was a hard worker from a young age, working on the farm, plowing the fields with horses, and caring for her brothers and sisters. Tillie and her siblings played their musical instruments on a radio station in Minneapolis. She was united in marriage to Linus Anton Vickstrom on January 26, 1952. Tillie and Linus raised their nine children on their 40-acre farm in Cedar, MN. In December of 1976, they moved to Genola, MN. Tillie was an adventurous person. She worked at Premier Glove Co. in Minneapolis, entering beauty pageants where she took second place on March 17, 1951. She was also a charter member of Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Francis, MN. She glowed when she could play the piano, organ, and could quilt and cook for any event. She was a dedicated member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls, MN. Tillie got a job at the Old Bank Cafe in Pierz for a short time. She then went on to work at St. Gabriel's Hospital Laundry in Little Falls, MN, until her retirement in 1991. She enjoyed making quilts for her grandchildren's weddings and every grandchild's birth. Tillie will be remembered for her bright red lipstick, quick-witted personality and her last punches she gave out to the boys. She enjoyed gardening, planting flowers, quilting, canning, and cooking for the church.

Tillie is survived by her children, Leonard (Lisa) Vickstrom of Oak Grove, Karen Tidd of Little Falls, Douglas (Lisa) Vickstrom of Saint Cloud, Diane Dahl of Chisago City, Gerald (Lori) Vickstrom of East Bethel, Julie (Keith) Waytashek of Brownton, James (Lisa) Vickstrom of Buckman, Marilyn (Brian) Schreder of Sauk Rapids, Ronald (Courtney) of Zimmerman; 43 grandchildren with one on the way; 71 great-grandchildren with one on the way; 16 great-great grandchildren; sister, Freida Harp of New Brighton; brothers, Arnie Senger of Kingman, AZ, Hank Senger of Stacy, David Senger of Chisago City; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Linus Anton Vickstrom; parents, Alois and Maria Senger; brothers, Harry, Alois Jr. Senger; sisters, Rosie Haselius, Vicky Johnson, Delores Peterson; sons-in-law, Louis Dahl, David Tidd; grandsons, Joshua Vickstrom, Jhase Vickstrom; great-grandson, Elijah Cedergren; grandson-in-law, Eric Holmquist.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff at the Pierz Villa in Pierz, MN for the wonderful care they gave Ottilia.