Brig. Louise Elcombe
HIBBING - Brigadier Louise Avis Elcombe, age 89, of Hibbing, and formerly of East Round Lake, near Brainerd, Minn., was promoted to glory on Monday, Dec. 10, 2007. Louise was born March 30, 1918, in Valley City, N.D., and graduated from Duluth, Minn., High School in 1937. She then attended the Salvation Army Training College in Chicago. She was commissioned a Probationary Lieutenant in 1941 as part of the Crusaders session. Louise was stationed in the following order of cities, Bismarck, N.D., Fargo, N.D., Camp in Minneapolis DHQ, then married and served in Brainerd, Minn., Austin, Minn., Virginia; Minn., Williston, N.D., Jamestown, Minn., back to Williston, N.D., Hibbing, Minn., Mankato, Minn., and St. Cloud, Minn. In 1945, she married Lt. James Ernest Elcombe and together they served God and the Salvation Army for 35 years before they retired in 1976.
Louise loved people and was dedicated to helping those in need. After retirement she loved to travel the United States and "Gypsy Mom" became her nickname.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James; daughter, Doris Aspling; several sisters; and great-grandchildren, Joshua and Alyssa Cannata and Kristin Johnstone.
Louise will be dearly missed by her children, Ron (Sharon) Elcombe, of Winona, Minn., Nancy (Michael) Massich, of Hibbing, Minn.; grandchildren, Zack Elcombe, Elizabeth Elcombe, Angie Cannata, Rich Cannata, Sara Johnstone, Corey Aspling and Kimberly Hinnenkamp; great-grandchildren, Ashley Cannata, Jonathan Cannata, Serena Cannata, Joshua Cannata, Nicholas Johnstone, Mary Johnstone, Esperanza Johnstone and Maria Johnstone.
Visitation will be Saturday, Dec. 15, from 9:30 a.m. until the 10:30 a.m. funeral service at the Salvation Army in Hibbing. Major Jon Fjellman and Major Rebecca Sjogren will officiate. Burial will be in the Bay Lake Cemetery, Bay Lake Township, Minn.
Arrangements by Rowe Funeral Home of Grand Rapids, Minn.