Agnes Alida Vogen

Agnes Aleda (Sickle) Vogen age 96, of Pilot Mound, passed away on April 18, 2015.

Agnes was born at home on January 20, 1919 in Pilot Mound Township to Edwin and Susie(Thompson)Sickle.

She attended country school through the eighth grade.  She was united in marriage with Vern Vogen in 1939. She was very active in Pilot Mound Lutheran Church as a member of the Ladies Aid, Martha Circle, Sunday School teacher, and numerous church committees.  She was also active in the Fillmore County Homemakers as well as quilting/sewing circles.  Agnes was always happiest at home with her family.  She and Vern farmed together until his passing in 1989.

She loved her chickens and sheep, and every Thursday they would deliver dozens of fresh from the farm eggs to many families in town. She had multiple large vegetable and fruit gardens without a weed in any of them and every year would fill the freezer and cellar shelves with canning.

Agnes was best known for her amazing baking and especially her lefse. Folks from as far away as Illinois and Arizona would pick up their lefse and Scandinavian baking each fall and would place their orders for the following year.  Her lefse was tender, paper thin and perfectly round.  Even as her memory was failing she made over 100 dozen lefse to sell and share with family and friends. She said she needed to keep baking to “help the older folks in the community” who just couldn’t do it any longer, although many of those folks were younger than her.

Agnes was also an accomplished seamstress; in her later years she made countless Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and beautiful baby quilts that were loved by all who were lucky enough to receive them.  Agnes’ grandchildren and great grandchildren will treasure their many fond memories of picking berries and baking with Grandma.

She is survived by her son Alan of Lakeville, granddaughter Tove(Eric)Johnson of Rosemount, and grandsons Bjorn(Jennifer)Vogen and Chris Vogen both of Lakeville, 6 great-grandchildren Emma, Carl, and Ilse Johnson, and Reier, Thor and Anders Vogen, and sister Alta Kruse of Chatfield.  Agnes was preceded in death by her husband Vern, sister Melva Aske, brothers Art, Hank and Earl, and daughter-in-law Randa.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Chosen Valley Care Center for their loving care of Agnes over the past eleven years. Memorials preferred to Pilot Mound Lutheran Church.

The Funeral Service for Agnes will be 11:00 AM Thursday at Pilot Mound Lutheran Church.  The committal service will follow in the church cemetery.   Visitation will take place one hour prior to service also at the church.

Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield is assisting the family with arrangements.  Please share a memory of Agnes with the family at rileyfuneralhomes.com.