First Rate Care

Lyla Evelyn Christianson

Lyla was born in rural Bejou as the oldest of 8 children.  Her parents were William and Alma (Ystenes) Leines.  Her siblings are Ordell (Sonie), Late Wally (Pauline), Late LeRoy (Jackie), Priscella (Arvid) Monson, Late Marlene (Butch) Olson, Angela (Arden) Swenby, and Patricia Skatvold.  Lyla spent her childhood years playing Kick the Can, tag, and playing with her one and only doll, as well as helping her mother with the household chores.  She also spent a lot of time with her Grandmother Bertina Ystenes.  After graduating from Fertile High School in 1945 she attended Normal Teachers Training.  She was a teacher in one room schoolhouses near Fisher, Shelly, and Bear Park-District 58 South.  Until she met Stanley Christianson at a New Years Eve dance in Bejou.  They were married on April 16, 1949.  He passed away on March 31, 2004, they were married for almost 55 years!  To this union came 9 children, 20 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.  Spencer (Lisa Dupree), Derek, Chase, and Amanda, Lynn (Mary Kostrzewki) Craig (Andrea) and Kari, LeRoy, Hannah, Mason, Kassidy and Liam, Cynthia (Calvin Vatthauer), Aaron, Axxel, Abby (Bradley vans), Braxton, Brock and Lyla, Molly (Brandon Brough), Colt and Lennon, Beverly (Michael Phelps), Tobias, Jon (Lindi Reese), Cole and Cody, Jan (Lisa Thorson), Joely, Jaden and Cort, Stacy (David Arends), Taliah, Grant, Rachel and Sarah and an infant daughter that passed away shortly after birth, Josephine.  Stanley and Lyla made their home on a farmstead southeast of Fertile until 1983 when they, along with Stacy moved to Twin Valley.  Lyla was always a caretaker of her children, she kept a very neat home, always had a good “meat and potatoes” meal on the table and backed many, many treats for all to enjoy!  Her love of cooking and baking has been passed down to many of her children and grandchildren and she still supervises over the lefse baking!  She worked at Bergeson Nursery for almost 35 years.  She loved when spring rolled around so she could get back to the nursery and get her hand in the dirt!  Her love of flowers and her green thumb were very evident to anyone that drove by her home!  Besides being a homemaker, and working at the nursery, she worked at the Top Notch Steakhouse in Fertile, the Amercian Legion in Twin Valley, and was an active member of Norman and Faaberg Lutheran churches.  Lyla moved out of her home in Twin Valley in October 2013 into the brand new Fair Meadow Assisted Living in Fertile.  She was happy to return to Fertile, visiting with many relatives and friends.  She love the Fertile Fair and still attends, riding around on a golf cart, visiting and enjoying a piece of pecan or lemon meringue pie at the Concordia Food Stand!  She resided there until October of 2017 and now makes the Fair Meadow Nursing Home her home.  Her hobbies include embroidery, reading, baking, gardening, taking pictures, and spending as much time as possible with her family.