Lilly A Skogstad

Lilly A. Skogstad, 91, of Kerkhoven, died Saturday, October 12th at Bethesda Grand in Willmar. Her memorial service will be at 12:00 pm, Friday at Kerkhoven Evangelical Free Church in Kerkhoven, 301 7th St, Kerkhoven, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to her service. Burial will be in Kerkhoven Evangelical Free Cemetery in Kerkhoven. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar, www.hafh.org.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the mission Reach Beyond, PO Box 39800, Colorado Springs, CO, 80949-9800.  Please make a notation "for Roy & Marabeth Ringenburg account"

Lilly Arvella Skogstad was born May 30, 1928, at home south of Kerkhoven, the daughter of David and Hulda Anderson. They later moved to the Benson area where she graduated from the Benson High School in 1946. On September 7, 1947, she was united in marriage to Stanley Philbrick at the Benson Evangelical Free Church. They lived in Grand Forks, Denver, Hawaii, and Bangkok, Thailand. They were blessed with two children, Randy and Valerie and later adopted a baby daughter, Candyce Leialoha, while living in Hawaii. Sadly, she was killed in a tragic car accident at the age of 43. They had a foster daughter, Susie Hartzler, while living in Hawaii, she is still a part of Lilly’s family.

Lilly and her children later returned to live in Benson in 1966. They moved to Willmar where Lilly worked. In 1988, Lilly married Leonard Tornquist residing in Kerkhoven. They spent winters in Texas until Lenny’s death.

On November 4, 2000, Lilly married Albin Skogstad, also from Kerkhoven. They lived a very active life until April 7, 2014 when Albin passed away. Lilly was an active member of the Kerkhoven Evangelical Free Church.

Among the things that Lilly enjoyed were ladies Bible studies, White Cross, and corresponding with friends whom she met in the many places she lived. She also loved spending time and keeping in touch with her many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. This included remembering them with cards on special occasions. She enjoyed trips to Arizona, Utah, and Idaho to visit family. She enjoyed entertaining and loved opening her home to her nieces and nephews. Lilly’s love, self-sacrifice, and care for others is a legacy that will live in the hearts of all who loved her.

Surviving are her children: Valerie Sherman, and Randy (Sarah) Philbrick; grandchildren: Colt Sherman, Lacey (Sean) McKinney; and great-grandsons: Ryker and Casen; sister: Sadie Philbrick, and nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. In 1971, Lilly “adopted” Mike and Dawn McCowen as extra children. She had many others who called her mom, grandma, and great-grandma from the Tornquist, Skogstad, and McCowen families.

She was preceded in death by husbands: Stanley Philbrick, Leonard Tornquist, and Albin Skogstad; daughter: Candyce Witters; parents, brother and sister-in-law: Lawrence (Lucille) Anderson; sister: Violet (Delbert) Johannes and brother: and sister in infancy.          

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