Elsie Wahlstrom

Elsie Marie Wahlstrom, daughter of the late David and Minnie Stromgren, was born in Stockholm Saskatchewan on February 4, 1933, and died peacefully on April 12, 2021, at the age of 88. Elsie was born in a one room home on the farm in the Kolin area with mid-wife Sarah Fredlund. They moved in 1935 to the Stromgren farm to look after David's parents, where her Dad had grown up. After studying in Prairie Bible College and working away from home, Elsie spent the next 34 years raising a family and feeding the Wahlstrom brothers and hired help on the Wahlstrom farm, about 5 miles from where she grew up. The last 28 years of her life were spent in six residences in Esterhazy and one in Yorkton, until she joyfully was moved to her current residence with her Lord and Savior.

After saying “I will never marry a farmer” and “I will never marry someone from Stockholm,” she married Clifford, a farmer in Stockholm, in 1958. Together they joyfully poured their lives into family, church, and the Stockholm community. They were founding members of the Esterhazy Baptist Church, which became a large family for them and a major source of growth and input for their family. Elsie’s passion was to help others know a personal relationship with her Lord, and to know that they have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Elsie knew that she had eternal life with Jesus Christ, not because of her strong faith, but because of her faith in a strong faithful God.

Elsie was blessed to travel with Clifford and others to Sweden, the place of her ancestors, and their home often rang with Swedish words flying back and forth with other “old-timers.” God blessed Mom with the gift of hospitality which she used to entertain friends from a variety of cultures and backgrounds in the surrounding community. Mom was loved so much by her family and friends. She will be deeply missed by all.

Elsie is survived by: sons Donald (Charlotte), Brent (Wanda), Marvin (Laura), daughter Lynette (William Crowdis), (Susan Oakley), 19 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren with one on the way. Elsie is predeceased by: her husband Clifford of 60 years, her only sister Muriel (Don), and by in-laws: Harry, Aileen (Bill), Delphine (Vergil). The family wishes to extend a special thank-you to the staff of Maple Street Manor and Centennial Special Care Home, the last two residences Elsie had on the earth.