Peggy Avelsgaard

Peggy JoAnn Avelsgaard, age 57, of Perham , MN , died Saturday, June 5, 2010 , at the Perham Memorial Hospital after a four and a half year courageous battle with ovarian cancer.


Peggy was born in Granite Falls , MN , to parents Stenword and Eunice Bjorndal on February 22, 1953 . She was baptized at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sacred Heart, MN. She was confirmed at Granite Falls Lutheran Church and graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1972. She then attended Moorhead State University , graduating in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Services.



In 1976, Peggy met Michael Avelsgaard, from Appleton , MN . They were married at Granite Falls Lutheran Church on February 25, 1978 . They started their married life in Lexington , KY , and after four months moved back to Minnesota , settling in Ottertail. Their daughter, Christina, was born on October 11, 1982 .



As a member of Calvary Lutheran Church , Peggy took on roles as a Sunday School teacher, a superintendent and a member of the Youth Committee. For two years she dabbled in the retail business by starting her own business, “Peggy’s Country Shoppe.” Early in her career she was the Sexual Abuse Coordinator at Lakeland Mental Health Services. She worked for Freshwater Special Education as well as Ottertail Social Services for a period of years and in 1990 she began working as an inter-agency service coordinator for families who had children ages birth to five years old with disabilities. In addition to this, in 1992 she began working for West Central Community Services as a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional, performing assessments and writing programs and progress reports for her clients. She continued in this final role until she passed away. Throughout her career Peggy served on committees too numerous to mention.



Peggy had many outside interests including designing and maintaining her gardens, boating, golfing and decorating their home. She especially cherished being a mother, attending all of Christina’s events and activities as she grew up. Although she enjoyed their travels and adventures as a family, her home was the center of her world.



Peggy is survived by her husband, Michael; daughter, Christina Eilertson (Kirk) and grandson Carter. She is also survived by her parents, Stenword and Eunice Bjorndal; brother, Scott Bjorndal (Karla) of Granite Falls ; sister, LeAnn Thun of Eden Prairie ; and several nieces and nephews.



Her selfless love will be remembered by all who knew her.