Elaine Thelma Lessman

The funeral service for Elaine Lessman, 85, of Walnut Grove, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2015, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Visitation will be Thursday from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Almlie-Horvath Funeral Home in Tracy. Visitation will continue from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Interment will follow the service at the Gales Township Cemetery in Rural Walnut Grove. Elaine Thelma (Johnson) Lessman was born on July 20, 1929, in Tracy, MN, to Andrew and Meta (Tomschin) Johnson. She was baptized at her home and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, in Tracy, in 1943. Elaine attended Tracy Public School and graduated from High School in 1947. After graduating, she worked for her father at his convenience store until she was married. On September 26, 1951, she married Henry Lessman at her parent’s home. The couple was married for 54 years. They farmed north of Tracy for four years and then north of Walnut Grove for 24 years. The couple moved into Walnut Grove in 1979. Elaine worked at the Bakery Café and Sarah’s Kitchen for eight years. She worked in the lunchroom at the Walnut Grove Sales Barn as a waitress and fry cook until it closed. Elaine was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Johnsonville where she taught Sunday School, was a Circle Chairman and held office in the Ladies’ Aid. She was currently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. She enjoyed her farm life, helping Henry with chores and doing field work. She also enjoyed her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After retirement, she and Henry traveled on many bus and camper trips. She enjoyed doing puzzles, reading, watching T.V. and having coffee with friends. Elaine died on Friday, June 12, 2015, at the Redwood Area Hospital in Redwood Falls, MN. She is survived by four sons: Patrick, Bruce, Paul and Jay (and Cindy), and two daughters: Caroline Alcorn and Julie Tuinstra, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Henry, parents, son Timothy and one son in infancy, sister Victoria Hanson, brother Junior Johnson and infant twin siblings Elmo and Margareta.