Margaret Ann (Nyren) Lundeen, 91, went peacefully to her Heavenly home on Sept. 23, 2026.
She was born March 15, 1935, at home near Siren, Wisconsin, to Carl and Ella Nyren. She grew up on her family’s small farm as the spoiled little sister who faithfully trailed behind her two older brothers, Lloyd and Clifford. They gave her a love for baseball—watching them play and listening to games on the radio. Margaret loved to go roller skating, to the 12-cent movies at the Town Hall, and to the dance halls in West Sweden and Indian Creek. After graduating from Siren High School in 1953, she completed a two-year nursing course taught by the Head Nurse in the basement of Frederic Municipal Hospital. She laughed every time she told the story of how she and a couple of classmates “spent the night at the Frederic Motel” (gasp!) as it was under construction. The mischievous nursing students didn’t sleep because they shrieked at every noise outside. Margaret’s nursing career was short-lived when she found the role of a lifetime—wife, mother and farmer. In 1956 she married Walter “Sonny” Lundeen, Jr. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Frederic. Two years later, Sonny and Margaret took over operation of the 1876 homestead farm on Lundeen Road, Frederic. They had six daughters—Linnea, Laurie, Lezlie, LaRae, Lisa and Lynelle. The years flew by filled with child rearing, milking cows and all other endless farm needs. She milked cows twice a day for 42 years with the only time off being hospitalized for childbirth and recovering from a third-degree burn.
Margaret was a “good cooker” and bread baker. She was known for whipping up hearty, delicious meals to feed her family and farmhands. She remained a dutiful wife when Sonny pursued his pigheaded, half-cocked battles with the government. (And to his credit, he won most of them.) Margaret finally got some rest when the cows were sold in 2000. She was the Best Grandma Ever and doted on her grandchildren, then great-grandchildren—especially Ardee!
She was an incredibly hard worker, dependable, generous, and thoughtful. She never complained and always had a cheerful disposition with a hearty laugh. Margaret was a faithful servant of the Lord and community—active in many church roles, food co-ops and 4-H.
She is survived by her children, Linnea (Mory) Von Werner, Laurie Sandino-Velasquez, Lezlie Lundeen, LaRae (Kirk) Fjellman, Lisa (Tony) Lundeen Brooks, and Lynelle (Jim) LaVenture; grandchildren, Isaac and Simson Lundeen, Cacey (Nate) Stini, Traci (Ben) Hustedt, Seneca (Shabana) Lundeen, and Abeni (Nels) Potvin; great-grandchildren, Megan and Scarlett Lundeen, Carl and Hank Hustedt, Millee, Laith, Ardee and Lettee Lundeen; sister-in-law, Yoshiko Nyren; brothers-in-law, Trevor, Brian and Craig (Nancy) Lundeen; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Lundeen Jr.; parents, Carl and Ella (Olson) Nyren; brothers, Lloyd and Clifford Nyren; sisters-in-law, Vergie Nyren, Carol Peterson, Carla Lundeen, and Ruth Lundeen; brothers-in-law, Bob Krueger and Gustaf Peterson; nephew, Bruce Nyren; and granddaughter, Sonni Lundeen.
A visitation will be held at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Webster, Wisconsin, Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, with viewing one hour prior to service at Grace Lutheran Church, West Sweden (Frederic), Wisconsin. A luncheon will be served in the basement after the service. All are welcome to join the family at Lakeview Cemetery in Siren at 2 p.m. for burial.
Funeral arrangements by Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster.
