Richard Edstrom

Posted 1/15/03

Richard Olof Edstrom, a former resident of Milaca, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003 at the Waconia Good Samaritan Nursing Home at the age of 101.

He was born in Skorped, Sweden on Nov. 21, 1901 to Olof and Sarah Edstrom. He came to America with his parents when he was seven months old. They came to the town of Milaca where his dad worked at a saw mill until they bought an 80 acre farm in the Riverside area near Milaca. Richard lived on the farm with his parents until he married Ruth Anderson Sept. 4, 1927. They also farmed in the Riverside area. In 1944 they moved to the town of Milaca where he operated a service shop, repairing engines, washing machines, lawn mowers and other machinery. In 1951 the family moved to the Lake Minnetonka area where he operated a heating business. He lived in that area until he bacame a resident of the Waconia Good Samaritan Nursing Home in 1999.

He was noted for his woodworking skills and especially the beautiful red cedar lamps he created. He was a member of, and very active in, the First Baptist Church of Milaca while they lived in Milaca and also the Minnetonka Baptist Church, having been involved in many different activities within the church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Victor; an infant son, Theodore; and a daughter, Carol Lundberg.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Marietta and Willis Korpi of Finlayson; son-in-law Jon Lundberg; grandchildren, Shawn (Bill) Logan, Gregg (Amy) Korpi, Gary (Shaleen) Korpi; and eight great-grandchildren.