November. 7, 1908 nn Oct. 27, 2006

Amanda B. Aarestad, 97, of Winona died Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, at St. Anne Extended Healthcare, Winona.

She could look back on a long career in education.

Amanda Bernice was born Nov. 7, 1908, to Severin T. and Tina (Benson) Aarestad on the family farm near Halstad, Minn.

Amanda received her elementary education in the rural schools of Norman County. Immediately upon graduating from Halstad High School in June 1926, she attended the summer sessions at Mayville, N.D., State Teachers College and Moorhead State Teachers College (1926-27) before launching her career at the rural Henderson School east of Halstad for two years. After returning to MSTC for the year 1929-30, she taught at Grover’s rural school near Glyndon, receiving a B.E. degree in fall 1933.

For the remainder of that school year, she was a full- time student in the College of Education, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, before going on to teach at Lamberton, Minn., Fargo, N.D., and Minneapolis, receiving her Master of Arts degree in summer 1939.

In fall 1940, she joined the faculty of Winona State College, a position she held for 35 years. In 1961-62, she served as exchange professor at the Oslo, Norway, Teachers College at Oslo. She retired in 1975, at which time she was named professor emeritus.

After retirement, Amanda sold advertising for “The Lutheran Digest” for three years, traveling to several Midwestern states.

She was an honorary life member of the American Association of University Women and was a life member of NEA. She joined Central Lutheran Church, Winona, in 1941, giving her 65 years of continuous membership.

Residing in her home in Winona, she continued her support of Winona State University.

Survivors include seven nieces and nephews; 17 grandnieces and grandnephews and nine great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Thurman, Selmer and Bennitt; and a sister, Sylvia Aamodt.

Funeral services for Amanda will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at Central Lutheran Church, Winona, with the Rev. Michelle Rem officiating. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Interment and graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at Augustana Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Halstad, Minn. with the Rev. Ryan Aarestad, officiating.

Words of sympathy or remembrance may be left at http://www.fawcett-junkerfuneralhome.com/.

Services entrusted to Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Winona, and Fredrikson Valley Funeral Home, Ada, Minn.

Last Modified: Monday, March 10, 2008 11:29 by Brooke Sherer