Elsie Potter

Elsie L. Freeman Potter, 94 of Atwater died Wednesday June 2, 2021 at Brookdale Assisted Living in Willmar.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m.  Friday, July 9, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Atwater.  Visitation will continue from 10-11 a.m., followed by a celebration of life at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 10, at the church.  Interment will be in the Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Immanuel Lutheran Church or Carris Health-Rice Hospice.  Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Elsie was born on January 21, 1927, in Pleasant Prairie Township, Martin County Minnesota.  The daughter of Albert and Lylia (Currier) Turnmire.  She attended District 23 County School of Imogene, Minnesota.  Her mother passed away when she was 11 in October, 1938.  She left seven children four sons and three daughters, six of the seven children went to the Owatonna State Public School and Orphanage in 1941.  Elsie came to Atwater as a foster child to the home of Joel and Celia Nelson.  Elsie was baptized the day before she was confirmed in May, 1943 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, by the Reverend Arnold Nelson.  She graduated May, 1946 from Atwater High School.

On June 10, 1953 She was united in marriage to Clifford A Freeman of rural Atwater. This union was blessed with three sons. Clifford passed away May, 1962.  On August 14, 1966 she married John F. Potter of Willmar, formally of Springfield, Minnesota.  John passed away March, 1976.

Elsie was proud to be raising her three sons on “Capitol Hill Farm.” She enjoyed attending her garden and many flower beds.  She was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Atwater in the ladies’ aid, altar guild, quilting, Sunday school teacher and Superintendent.  Her other activities included garden, card, Tuesday Afternoon, and birthday clubs, the Kandiyohi Homemakers and Civic Club of Kandiyohi.  4-H leader of the Kandiyohi Busy Bees, baking pies at the Kandiyohi County Fair in the 4-H food stand, and volunteering in the little red school house at the fair.  She also was secretary for the Gennessee Local Farmers Union, helped the Atwater Threshers in the school house, and attending the Atwater Alumni. Her hobbies included, collecting Beanie Babies, crystal and porcelain bells, collector spoons and country LP records. Her boys always called her the “Energizer Bunny!”

Her later years at Brookdale were spent reading, doing word finds, adult coloring, crafts, scrapbooks, Bingo (she loved it when she won), and counting motorcycles from the front porch of 19th Avenue with her close friends.

She is survived by her three children:  Cal (and Barb) Freeman of rural Atwater, Ron (and JoAnn) Freeman of Ladysmith, Wisconsin, and Russ (and Christine) Freeman of Tucson, Arizona;  eight grandchildren: Chris, Jeff, Elizabeth, Anna, Ruth, Elijah, Luke and Miriam; four great grandchildren and one sister, Doris Mittag of Wadena.  Also surviving is a step daughter-in-law, Joanie (and Brian) Potter-Keilen of Austin, Texas and her children and grandchildren, besides several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husbands:  Clifford Freeman and John Potter; special friend: Jerry A. Anderson; her parents; four brothers: Lyle, Paul, Albert, John; one sister: Mary Kyseth and one step-great grandchild in infancy.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of Brookdale Assisted Living in Willmar and Carris Health-Rice Hospice for their excellent and compassionate care.