Eleanor Alvina Eastvold was born October 8, 1927. Her parents were Andrew and Clara (Dahl) Eastvold of Felton Township, Clay County, Minnesota. She is listed with her parents in the 1930 Census and 1940 Census.
She grew up on the family farm, graduated from Felton High School, attended Concordia College in Moorhead, and worked at the Clay County Courthouse.
She met the love of her life, C. Lloyd Bjornlie while studying at Concordia. She married him on October 29, 1949 at Jevnaker Lutheran Church in Norman County.
Lloyd was born July 25, 1925 to Lars and Bertha Bjornlie of rural Cooperstown, North Dakota. He is listed with his parents and four siblings in the 1930 Census. The 1940 Census shows him and one sister living with their parents, but they had moved to rural Clearbrook, Minnesota.
The 1950 US Census shows the young married couple living in Moorhead, Minnesota and she is listed as a typist in the abstract business. Later that year they moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where their three daughters and two sons were born.
Lloyd was a school teacher, administrator and pastor. They lived in Fergus Falls from 1950 to 1964, Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1964 to 1970, Eugene, Oregon from 1970 to 1972, then back to Minnesota where he served as pastor at several Lutheran Brethren churches. They retired in Fergus Falls. Eleanor faithfully supported her husband and family throughout their married life.
Lloyd died January 9, 2011. Eleanor died December 21, 2019. Burials were at the Jevnaker Cemetery.
Excerpts from their obituaries.
| Eleanor Bjornlie, 92, died Saturday, December 21, 2019, at her residence, the Hospitality House, Fergus Falls. Eleanor Alvina Eastvold was born October 8, 1927, to Andrew and Clara Eastvold, rural Felton. Eleanor grew up in a loving Christian home, an only child, surrounded by extended family. After graduating from Felton High School in 1945 she attended Concordia College, Moorhead, and worked at the Clay County Courthouse. It was during these days that Eleanor met the love of her life, Lloyd Bjornlie. Lloyd and Eleanor were married October 29, 1949, at Jevnaker Lutheran Church, rural Borup. They were blessed with five children: Cheryl, David, Ethan, Lori and Teresa. While Lloyd taught and served as principal of Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Fergus Falls from 1950-1964, Eleanor helped in quite a few capacities, including teaching girls’ physical education and mentoring many teenage girls. Eleanor was involved in Women’s Missionary Fellowship, Ladies’ Aid, as well as the PTA. When Lloyd served as president of Lutheran Brethren Schools from 1972-1984, Eleanor continued to use her gift of hospitality through Hillcrest Auxiliary and Seminary Wives organizations as well as informally serving many students and friends. Eleanor served along with Lloyd as he pastored Immanuel Lutheran Brethren Church, Eugene, Oregon from 1970-1972; Berea Lutheran Brethren Church, Alexandria from 1984-1988; and Dovre and Union Lake parishes in Winger from 1989-1993 before retiring to Fergus Falls in 1993. Her willingness to persevere through sickness and health, and her strength, faithfulness, and commitment in difficult circumstances gave testimony to her faith and her deep love of her husband, Lloyd, and her Lord Jesus Christ. As mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she has passed on a legacy to three generations who walk the path of faith in our Lord’s footsteps as she did. Blessed be the memory of Eleanor Bjornlie! Eleanor is survived by five children and their spouses, 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, Andrew and Clara Eastvold, and her husband of 61 years, C. Lloyd Bjornlie. |
| Reverend C. Lloyd Bjornlie, 85, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, January 9, 2011 at the Broen Memorial Home in Fergus Falls. Clarence Lloyd Bjornlie was born July 25, 1925 to Norwegian immigrants Lars and Bertha Bjornlie, in Cooperstown, North Dakota. Lloyd grew up in a loving Christian home, the youngest of five children, in Cooperstown, and the small farming community of Leonard, near Clearbrook, Minnesota, graduating from Clearbrook High School in 1943. Lloyd served in the U.S. Army in France, Norway, and Germany from 1944-46. While in the service, he experienced the grace of God and the reality of prayer in a new and vital way. After his discharge, during a three-month bout with Rheumatic Fever he committed his life to God’s service whatever that might be. Enrolling at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota he took many pre-seminary courses, and graduated in 1950 with two majors: Business Education; and History and Political Science, with minors in Psychology and Education. It was at Concordia that Lloyd met the love of his life, Eleanor Eastvold, and many other lifelong “Cobber” friends. Lloyd and Eleanor (Eastvold) Bjornlie were married October 29, 1949 at Jevnaker Lutheran Church, rural Borup, Minnesota. To this union five children were born. Lloyd accepted a call to teach at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in 1950. He became Principal in 1954 and served there until 1964. His passion for the Lord Jesus, and love for his students have borne fruit in the lives of many who call him friend. During these years, he also attended Lutheran Brethren Seminary, preached at various churches as a supply pastor, and led several Gospel Teams. In 1964 the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Lloyd held the position of Assistant to the University of Minnesota’s Vice-President for Educational Relationships. In this position Lloyd was in charge of the office of accreditation for all private schools in the state of Minnesota. During these years, he enjoyed worshiping and serving as an elder at Ebenezer Lutheran Brethren Church. By 1970, Lloyd had also received his Masters Degree in Administration, and completed all course work for a doctorate. Then God began laying on his heart a call to fulltime ministry that he couldn’t ignore. When Immanuel Lutheran Brethren Church in Eugene, Oregon issued him a pastoral call in 1970, he accepted this outward confirmation of the inward Call he had felt from the Lord. The years spent in Eugene were rewarding for the entire family. The Church of the Lutheran Brethren annual convention elected Lloyd as President of Lutheran Brethren Schools in 1972. LBS included Hillcrest Academy, Junior Bible College, and Seminary, where he served three terms (twelve years). During this time, he also served three years as president of the Minnesota Non-Public Accrediting Association. Lloyd and Eleanor made a good team, and remained so as they served Berea Lutheran Brethren in Alexandria, Minnesota, from 1984-1988, and Dovre and Union Lake parishes in Winger, Minnesota 1989-1993 before retiring to Fergus Falls in 1993. The diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease in 1993 cut short his retirement plans for writing, and even interim preaching, as his voice weakened. But his faith and spirit was strong, and he graciously accepted this weakness, trusting in God to walk with him on this road as well. As Principal, President, and Pastor, Lloyd was a servant leader. His compassion, genuine concern for each person he met, and dry wit will be missed. As father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he has passed on a legacy of faith to three generations who are all walking the path of faith in his, and his Lord’s footsteps. Blessed be his memory! Lloyd is survived by his wife, Eleanor (Eastvold) Bjornlie, five children and their spouses, thirteen living grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, his oldest sister, and numbers of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents Lars and Bertha Bjornlie, siblings Oswald, Myrtle Irene McCarley, and Bernice Steenerson; and granddaughter Ingrid Bjornlie. |
