Elsie J. Freeman was born May 13, 1910, in Gilbert, the daughter of John and Hilda (Heglund) Korpi. She grew up in Gilbert and was a 1928 graduate of Gilbert High School. She was a 1931 graduate of Duluth State Teachers College and received her bachelor of science degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 1959. She married Earl Freeman in 1942. She taught school in St. Louis County, Lake County, Tower-Sudan and for more than 30 years in the Greenway School District. She taught for 45 consecutive years, retiring in 1975. She was a member of the Bethel-Trinity Lutheran Church of Bovey and its Naomi Circle, the Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Society, the Coleraine-Bovey Women's Club, the Retired Educators of Minnesota, the American Association of Retired Persons and a life member of the Minnesota Education Association. She had also been a volunteer for the Red Cross and the Itasca Nursing Home since 1976.
She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Edith Korpi, Manitowoc, Wis., and Phyllis Korpi, Phoenix, Ariz.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Earl, in 1976, and two brothers, Milton and Ray Korpi.
Memorials are preferred to Bethel-Trinity Lutheran Church.
Funeral: Saturday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at Bethel-Trinity Lutheran Church, Bovey.
Burial: Gilbert Cemetery
I was lucky enough to have Mrs. Freeman not for one year, but two years! I was in her third grade class in 1963. When I came back for the next year of school, she had switched from 3rd to 4th grade! I was so happy. Only one other teacher in all my school years was to equal her in my affections!
One tidbit that I will never forget; in fourth grade my mother was expecting my little brother. There were three girls already in the family. Mrs. Freeman asked if I wanted a brother or sister, and I said I didn't want no boys! With a smile, she asked if my mom had a little boy would I bring him to school, since she could have no children. Of course I said you got a deal! Mother had my brother during Christmas break. When we went back to school, with a twinkle in her eye, she asked where her little boy was. Of course she knew I had fallen in love with my baby brother, and I realized she had been pulling my leg. She was always good for a joke, and she truly loved us. She couldn't have children, so we in fact, were her children.
Mrs.Freeman remembered me until she died at 88, which never ceased to amaze me!
She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Edith Korpi, Manitowoc, Wis., and Phyllis Korpi, Phoenix, Ariz.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Earl, in 1976, and two brothers, Milton and Ray Korpi.
Memorials are preferred to Bethel-Trinity Lutheran Church.
Funeral: Saturday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at Bethel-Trinity Lutheran Church, Bovey.
Burial: Gilbert Cemetery
I was lucky enough to have Mrs. Freeman not for one year, but two years! I was in her third grade class in 1963. When I came back for the next year of school, she had switched from 3rd to 4th grade! I was so happy. Only one other teacher in all my school years was to equal her in my affections!
One tidbit that I will never forget; in fourth grade my mother was expecting my little brother. There were three girls already in the family. Mrs. Freeman asked if I wanted a brother or sister, and I said I didn't want no boys! With a smile, she asked if my mom had a little boy would I bring him to school, since she could have no children. Of course I said you got a deal! Mother had my brother during Christmas break. When we went back to school, with a twinkle in her eye, she asked where her little boy was. Of course she knew I had fallen in love with my baby brother, and I realized she had been pulling my leg. She was always good for a joke, and she truly loved us. She couldn't have children, so we in fact, were her children.
Mrs.Freeman remembered me until she died at 88, which never ceased to amaze me!
Elsie J. Freeman was born May 13, 1910, in Gilbert, the daughter of John and Hilda (Heglund) Korpi. She grew up in Gilbert and was a 1928 graduate of Gilbert High School. She was a 1931 graduate of Duluth State Teachers College and received her bachelor of science degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 1959. She married Earl Freeman in 1942. She taught school in St. Louis County, Lake County, Tower-Sudan and for more than 30 years in the Greenway School District. She taught for 45 consecutive years, retiring in 1975. She was a member of the Bethel-Trinity Lutheran Church of Bovey and its Naomi Circle, the Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Society, the Coleraine-Bovey Women's Club, the Retired Educators of Minnesota, the American Association of Retired Persons and a life member of the Minnesota Education Association. She had also been a volunteer for the Red Cross and the Itasca Nursing Home since 1976.
She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Edith Korpi, Manitowoc, Wis., and Phyllis Korpi, Phoenix, Ariz.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Earl, in 1976, and two brothers, Milton and Ray Korpi.
Memorials are preferred to Bethel-Trinity Lutheran Church.
Funeral: Saturday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at Bethel-Trinity Lutheran Church, Bovey.
Burial: Gilbert Cemetery
I was lucky enough to have Mrs. Freeman not for one year, but two years! I was in her third grade class in 1963. When I came back for the next year of school, she had switched from 3rd to 4th grade! I was so happy. Only one other teacher in all my school years was to equal her in my affections!
One tidbit that I will never forget; in fourth grade my mother was expecting my little brother. There were three girls already in the family. Mrs. Freeman asked if I wanted a brother or sister, and I said I didn't want no boys! With a smile, she asked if my mom had a little boy would I bring him to school, since she could have no children. Of course I said you got a deal! Mother had my brother during Christmas break. When we went back to school, with a twinkle in her eye, she asked where her little boy was. Of course she knew I had fallen in love with my baby brother, and I realized she had been pulling my leg. She was always good for a joke, and she truly loved us. She couldn't have children, so we in fact, were her children.
Mrs.Freeman remembered me until she died at 88, which never ceased to amaze me!
She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Edith Korpi, Manitowoc, Wis., and Phyllis Korpi, Phoenix, Ariz.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Earl, in 1976, and two brothers, Milton and Ray Korpi.
Memorials are preferred to Bethel-Trinity Lutheran Church.
Funeral: Saturday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at Bethel-Trinity Lutheran Church, Bovey.
Burial: Gilbert Cemetery
I was lucky enough to have Mrs. Freeman not for one year, but two years! I was in her third grade class in 1963. When I came back for the next year of school, she had switched from 3rd to 4th grade! I was so happy. Only one other teacher in all my school years was to equal her in my affections!
One tidbit that I will never forget; in fourth grade my mother was expecting my little brother. There were three girls already in the family. Mrs. Freeman asked if I wanted a brother or sister, and I said I didn't want no boys! With a smile, she asked if my mom had a little boy would I bring him to school, since she could have no children. Of course I said you got a deal! Mother had my brother during Christmas break. When we went back to school, with a twinkle in her eye, she asked where her little boy was. Of course she knew I had fallen in love with my baby brother, and I realized she had been pulling my leg. She was always good for a joke, and she truly loved us. She couldn't have children, so we in fact, were her children.
Mrs.Freeman remembered me until she died at 88, which never ceased to amaze me!
