Funeral services for Linnea Forthun, 95, of Hettinger, ND will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hettinger Lutheran Church. Rev. Kathleen Dettmann and Rev. Ron Nelson will officiate and burial will be at a later date in February at the North Dakota Veteran's Cemeter south of Mandan, ND. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, at the Centennial Chapel of Evanson Jensen Funeral Homes and one hour prior to the service at the Lutheran Church on Saturday morning. A Gathering of Family and Friends will be Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Centennial Chapel (Formerly the First Congregational Church).

Linnea Swenson daughter of Erik and Johanna (Eklof) Swenson was born May 29, 1917 on the family farmstead north of Haynes, ND. As a young child she spent her days enjoying farm life and learning homemaking skill at her mother's side. At the age of 5 she entered Kansas City #1 school house for her elementary education. She attended Hettinger High School through her junior year. For her senior year, she attended Clearbrook High School in Clearbrook, MN. She lived with her brother Swen and his family helping to care for their young children.

She returned to the farm after graduation in 1935. After her mother's death in 1935, Linnea took over the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning and other household chores for her father and brothers living at home.

In the early 40's she met Fred Forthun, owner of F and M Grocery in Hettinger, ND. They were married on April 14, 1941 at the Hettinger Lutheran Church. From 1941 to Dec. 1945, while Fred was serving in the South Pacific, she had several jobs. After Fred's discharge in December of 1945, they moved to Worthington, MN. There Fred learned the florist and greenhouse business, while Linnea attended college. Their first daughter, Ardelle was born there in 1946.

After returning to Hettinger in 1948 to start Forthun Florist and Greenhouse, the family also grew. Avis was born in 1948. The business flourished and Fred and Linnea's floral designs were known throughout the area. The greenhouse was a favorite place for the community in the spring and early summer. As the business grew, so did the family with the birth of Arlyce in 1956 and Ardmore in 1957.

The business and family kept Linnea and Fred busy from the 50's to the early 80's when they sold the floral portion of the business. Linnea and Fred made many senior citizen trips and visited family and friends throughout the country.

Fred was placed on oxygen in 1997 and the greenhouse was closed in 1999 and Linnea was his primary caregiver until November of 2001 when they entered the nursing home. After Fred passed away in January of 2002, Linnea returned home and lived alone until November of 2010 when she moved to Ardelle's home. She remained there until she entered the Western Horizon's Care Center in July of 2011 where she passed away on Friday, February 1, 2013.

Linnea was baptized and confirmed at Augustana (Swedish) Lutheran Church in Hettinger. She became a member of the Hettinger Lutheran Church in 1937. Linnea held many positions as a member of Hettinger Lutheran Church.

Grateful for having shared in her life are her daughters, Ardelle, Hettinger, ND, Avis (Al) Scott, Woonsocket, RI and Arlyce (Jack) Jackson, Dickinson, ND and her son, Ardmore, (Becky) Forthun, Hettinger, ND; five granddaughters, Tanya, Erin, Sonja, Rebecca and Eden; four great grandsons, Forrest, Freddie, Jason and Connor; one sister-in-law, Norma Swenson and numerous nieces and nephews.

Linnea was preceded in death by her parents, Erik and Johanna Swenson, her husband, Fred, and her siblings, Swen, Gus, Oscar, Margaret and Christian.