Gyda Willar

Gyda M. Willar, age 97, of Edina, died Friday afternoon, November 24th, at the Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar.
Funeral services will be held at 10 A.M., Wednesday, November 29th, at the Bethesda Heritage Center Chapel with Rev. Wayne D. Kopitzke, pastor from First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake, officiating. The interment will be at 2:30 P.M., Wednesday, at Hillside Cemetery in Minneapolis, with Rev. Daniel Ankerfelt, pastor from Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church officiating. Friends may call 1/2 hour prior to the services at the Bethesda Heritage Center. Arrangements are with the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.
Gyda Mildred Willar was born on January 30, 1909, in Sunburg, Minnesota, the daughter of Louise (Erickson) and Lewis L. Bendickson. She was baptized in Sunburg and attended District 56 schools. She moved with her family to Jericho, where her father owned and operated a general store. Gyda completed her education and was confirmed at the First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake. In her early 20's she moved to Rolla, Missouri, and worked as a caregiver for Mrs. Alexander Gow for several years. Gyda returned to Minnesota and made her home in Minneapolis. She worked for the Kickernick Company as a seamstress. She married Harold Torkelson and they lived in Minneapolis. They later started Torks Manufacturing Company and she retired from Kickernick and became the bookkeeper for her husband's business. After Harold's death in 1969, she retired and sold the business. In 1978, she was married to Carl Woodrow Willar in Las Vegas, Nevada. They made their home in Minneapolis during the summers and wintered in Rancho Mirage, California. She was a charter and active member of her church, Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church, was a past President of the Guild and had been the oldest member. Gyda moved to Willmar in January of 2005 and had been a resident at the Bethesda Heritage Center since. She was an active person and loved to swim, bowl, play cards, gardening and to travel. Gyda loved to entertain both family and friends, she took great pleasure in entertaining and being with family.
She is survived by one sister, Alma Nelson of Willmar, and many nieces and nephews, besides other relatives and friends. Gyda was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, five brothers; Lawrence, Walter, Alfred, Elbee Bendickson and one in infancy and five sisters; Cora, Luella, Bertha, Mabel and Helen.