Stella Greene

Stella Lillian Greene, 97, of Red Wing, died Monday at Fairview Red Wing Medical Center. She was born on January 29, 1909 in Aspelund, Minnesota to Samuel and Laura (Gulman) Swenson. She attended rural schools near Aspelund, high school in Kenyon and graduated in 1926 from Red Wing Seminary. She attended McPhail School of Music in Minneapolis for three years studying, piano, voice, violin and drama. She also played basketball there. On September 21, 1930 she married Herman Simpson and in 1937 they adopted Kathryn Ann. They later divorced. For a number of years she worked for Durkee-Atwood while living in Red Wing. On September 30, 1960 she married Leland Greene. They lived in St. Paul were she was employed by IDS. Leland died October 10, 1979. In 1982 Stella moved to Jordan Towers in Red Wing and for the past year she has been a resident of Fairview Seminary Home. A member of United Lutheran Church, she sang in the choir and ladies chorus and was active in the church circles. She also sang for many weddings and funerals. She enjoyed gardening, walking, had an interest in politics and was an avid sports fan. Her family fondly remembers her great malted milk shakes and oatmeal cookies. Survivors include her daughter, Kathryn (John) Simpson Sandquist of Red Wing; three grandchildren, Laura (Scott) Shively and Jorin Sandquist all of San Diego, Cal. and Myra (Tom) Reuter of Westby, Wis.; two great grandchildren, Joseph and Ava Reuter of Westby, Wis.; and two nephews, Don Gard and Ray Sands. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leland and former husband, Herman; two sisters, Vera Gard and Florence Sands and one brother, John Swenson. Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at United Lutheran Church with Rev. Randall Johnson officiating. Private burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Donald and Thomas Gard, Debbie Austgen, Virgil Nodland and Ray and Norma Sands. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to the ELCA world hunger. Funeral arrangements are by the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.