Lillian M. Dickinson

Lillian Marie Dickinson, 96, passed away on September 22, 2023, at Southdale Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her final moments were spent peacefully surrounded by her four children, many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Born on March 19, 1927, in Chicago to James and Sylvia Kunes, Lillian moved with her family to a small farm in Hackett, north of Prentice, Wisconsin at the age of one.  

Lillian graduated from high school at 16 and attended teachers' college in Stevens Point during World War II, as the need for teachers was great. Lillian taught grade school for several years before meeting her future husband Cecil at a church young adults' activity. After marrying, Lillian became a full-time wife and mother, returning to teaching once her children were in school.

Lillian and Cecil farmed in Pennington, west of Prentice for many years. Lillian worked alongside Cecil milking cows, harvesting crops, driving tractor, and caring for the farm.  She passed on to her children a love of gardening, flowers, picking berries in the summer, making pickles, canning, music, reading, and the importance of family.  

Lillian was an accomplished pianist and played all her life. Her children recall many evenings growing up where they gathered around the piano singing old hymns together as a family.

After Lillian and Cecil retired from farming, Lillian worked as a secretary at the State Bank of Phillips for several years and Price County Human Services until she retired.  Even after retirement she worked several hours a week for Blomberg Logging, teaching her daughter computer skills and helping with general bookkeeping.

Lillian was very involved in her community and church, serving as church secretary and deaconess at Ogema Baptist Church for several years. She was a 4-H leader and a member of her local Homemakers group.

Lillian loved to travel with family and friends. Over the years she visited New Orleans, Arizona, Florida, Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, St. Louis, California, and Hawaii to name a few destinations. She traveled to Europe with her brother James and his wife, Lucille, made one memorable trip in 2003 to the Arctic Circle, north of Yellowknife in Northern Canada to visit the newly discovered crash site of her brother Albert's plane, missing since 1964.

Lillian lived most of her life in the Prentice and Ogema area, moving to Princeton, Minnesota near her daughter, Cristy, when health concerns made living alone impossible. Lillian lived the last nine years of her life at Sterling Pointe assisted living community.

Preceded in death by husband Cecil; parents, James and Sylvia (Jandacek) Kunes; brothers, James and Albert; sister-in-law, Lucille (Cupp) Kunes; one grandson, Daniel Collins; and one granddaughter, Sheila Blomberg.

Survived by daughters, Cristy (George) Collins and Debby (Randy) Blomberg; sons, Ken (Debbie Balaun) Dickinson and Dan (Kim Meyers) Dickinson; nineteen grandchildren, thirty-two great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. 

A Memorial service will be held at 11a.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Ogema Baptist Church, W5091 State Highway 86, Ogema, WI 54459, with visitation beginning one hour prior to services at the church. Private family interment will be at the Garden of Memories Cemetery next to her beloved husband. Heindl-Nimsgern Funeral Home is assisting the family.