Obituary of Louise Palm

Louise was born in the farm home north of Czar, Alberta, on February 7, 1920. She was the oldest child of Gustav and Gerda (nee Hanson) Eriksson. Louise began her schooling by riding on horseback to the rural school of Custer. During these years she also participated in the school agricultural and handicraft fairs, often winning prizes. Her high school was taken in the town of Czar. Upon finishing high school, and as these were the depression years, she worked for a while for neighbours before going on to Normal School in Edmonton in 1939. After one year of Normal School she began teaching, but the requirement was that teachers would have to upgrade their qualifications through summer-school work at the University of Alberta. Louise taught in a number of schools, mostly in the area east of Camrose. From 1946 to 1948, she was in Minneapolis, Minnesota, taking classes both at the Lutheran Bible Institute and at the University of Minnesota where she also studied Spanish. She had become interested in serving as a missionary in Colombia and later did go there for several years. Though never officially a missionary, and in fact working to support herself, she assisted with Lutheran mission congregations, playing piano or organ, sometimes three times on a Sunday in different locations. Her work during the week was teaching English classes at the University and at other institutions, including classes for young executives of corporations. She also taught piano. Before leaving Colombia she traveled on her own to most of the countries in South America, also visiting missionaries she knew or knew about. When her mother was near death in 1960, Louise came back to Canada to provide help. She also interrupted her teaching to be able to help her father in 1964 during a period of serious illness. Louise taught in Camrose from 1966-1973. In 1967 she married Hans Palm. For a few years they lived on his farm north of Armena, but he later sold it and they bought a house in Camrose. While in Camrose Louise was active as a "Stephen Minister" through Messiah Lutheran Church, in leading Bible Studies, and hosting gatherings in her house. She helped host official visitors from Sweden in 1985, and corresponded with a number of relatives and friends, sometimes in Swedish and in Norwegian. She and Hans also traveled, in Canada and the US and in Norway and Sweden. After Hans's death in 1989, Louise maintained the house in Camrose for some years, but then sold it and moved to an apartment, where she resided until the fall of 2012, though her health was failing during the last two years. In the fall of 2012 she became a resident of Faith House. Louise was predeceased by her parents; her brother Luther and his wife Berit; two nephews; and one niece. She is survived by her stepdaughter Marian (Tom) and their family; her brother Vincent (Mary Ellen); by four nephews and two nieces and the families of her nephews and nieces. A Funeral Service was held 11:30 a.m., Friday, July 5, 2013 from Messiah Lutheran Church with Rev. Harold Eriksson and Bev Swanson officiating. Interment followed in the Czar Cemetery. If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to CLBI, World Mission Prayer League, or to Messiah Lutheran Church.