Mona Jean Lund (nee Bilden) went to her heavenly home on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, at the age of 93. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northwood, North Dakota. A visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Bilden-Askew Funeral Home in Northwood. A private family prayer service will be at 7 p.m.

Mona was born March 14, 1924, in Northwood, North Dakota, the first child of Dagny Helena (nee Skurdell) and Oliver Edwin Bilden.

She graduated from Northwood High School in 1942, then attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, graduating in 1946 with a bachelor’s degree in home economics. She continued her education at the University of Minnesota and became a registered dietitian. In 1948 she married Elmer (Bud) Hjortland Jr. and they had one child. Bud died of polio in 1951, leaving Mona a widow at age 27.

In 1953 Mona married Calvin Elwood Berg, a Lutheran pastor. A son and daughter were born to them. The family lived in Boyd and St. James, where Calvin served as pastor. In 1968 the family moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Calvin served as a regional director for the Good Samaritan Society. In 1970, Calvin died of a heart attack, leaving Mona widowed a second time at age 46.

In June of 1972, Mona married Herbert Arthur Lund, a widower and banker from Albert Lea. They lived in Albert Lea and she and Herb adopted each other’s children. Herb had three children and the two families merged harmoniously.

Mona worked as a registered dietitian for many years, and was a member of the American Dietetic Association for 69 years. Mona and Herb traveled extensively and enjoyed spending many winter months in Sun City, Arizona. Herb died in December 2004. In 2008, Mona moved back to her birth hometown of Northwood.

Mona’s foremost values included her faith in God and love for her family. She was a lifelong member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Association and involved with different groups in the church. She was very active in PEO and in Sons of Norway. She loved entertaining and family gatherings, the family’s Norwegian heritage, travel and watching her favorite sports teams on television. All who knew her admired her positive outlook and cheerful disposition. Her life serves as an example to her children and all who knew her well.

Preceding Mona in death were her parents; her three husbands; and a brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Annabelle Bilden. 

Mona is survived by her six children, David (Debra) Hjortland of North Oaks, Richard (Nancy) Lund of Helotes, Texas, Barbara Lund of Minneapolis, Jonathon (Laurie) Berg of Northwood, Rachel (David) Christensen of Albert Lea and Marie (Johnny) Gillespie of La Grange Park, Illinois; one brother, Peter (Mary) Bilden, of Boone, Iowa; three sisters, Lenore (Hugh) Kaste of Northfield, Audrey (Edward) Gordhammer of Xenia, Ohio, and Becky (Barry) Bowles of Santa Barbara, California; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church. Memorials are suggested to Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church or First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea.

Online guestbook is available at www.bildenfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are being made with Bilden-Askew Funeral Home of Northwood.