Grace Ruth Alen

Grace Ruth (Lundberg) Alen, 77, of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin passed away on Good Friday, April 10, 2020 at the Amery Hospital. Born to Axel “Herman” and Ruth (Olson) Lundberg in Milaca, MN on August 30, 1942, Grace was raised in rural Milaca by loving and hardworking Christian parents along with a sister and 3 brothers. She moved to Minneapolis to work for Prudential Insurance company after graduating from Milaca High School in 1960. She was introduced to her husband Darrel by a mutual friend and they had a long-distance courtship for a year until they married, and she moved to Wisconsin and became a farm wife. While partnering in the hard work of a family farm, Grace and Darrel spent nearly each day together for 50 years. They truly enjoyed each other’s company, enjoying many trips to Grand Marais, visiting Stephanie in the Twin Cities, Rochelle in California and Ryan in Chicago and Boston.

Raising her children, Grace modeled patience, forgiveness, generosity and faithful prayer for her family. She began each day reading God’s word and followed Jesus humbly, always putting others before herself. Becoming a grandma to Nick gave a new level of pride and delight as she showered him with love and affection.

Grace served others tirelessly, cooking and baking hearty meals and tasty treats for her family and friends, teaching Sunday School, serving at Vacation Bible School, volunteering to provide respite care to hospice patients and praying daily for the needs of others. She remained a lifelong voracious reader, filling her home with books of inspiration, enjoyment and Bible study and passed on a love of reading to her children and grandson.

Grace was known for her kindness, smiles, and warm hugs. She showed genuine interest in others and often sent thoughtful notes of love and encouragement, never missing an opportunity to give a special personalized gift. Homemade cookies were a favorite gift she loved to give, and others loved to enjoy.

Love, generosity and service to others was a hallmark of Grace’s life and gave her tremendous joy. She truly modeled the fruits of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Her children arise and call her blessed.

Grace lived a life of daily work, daily prayer and daily dependence on God. She trusted in the faithfulness of God that was new every morning. Her favorite hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness, expresses her belief that God was with her through the ups and downs of life. Even death has not separated Grace from her Lord; as scripture reminds us, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, Axel “Herman” and Ruth (Olson) Lundberg; brother & sister-in-law Gordon (Vergean) Lundberg, and sister-in-law Cheryl Stock.

Grace is survived by Darrel, her loving husband of 50 years; children Stephanie (David) Horak, of Maple Plain, MN; Rochelle (Myrko) Balaban of Bakersfield, CA; Ryan Alen of Boston, MA; grandson Nicholas Balaban; sister Jeannette (Orvin) Finnesgard; brothers Rev. Robert (Doris) Lundberg; Rev. Duane (Marian) Lundberg; sister-in-law Velda Alen; brother-in-law Kent Stock; many nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews and great-great nieces and nephews and many special friends. 

Grace will be laid to rest at Bunyan Union Cemetery in rural Balsam Lake.

A memorial service for Grace will be held at a later date at East Balsam Baptist Church after the Governor's order for gatherings has been lifted. The date will be posted then.

The Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Centuria has been entrusted with arrangements.

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