Left - Lynn C. Martinson (Mudrey)
COMMUNITY MEMBER &
SOCIETY NEWSLETTER FOUNDER MOURNED
Many may not know that the founder of our popular Society newsletter was Lynn C. Martinson (Mudrey) who passed away May 30, 2001 at her home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Lynn was born October 7, 1951 at Hopkins Minnesota to Russell and Jean Martinson. After her marriage to Michael in 1970 at Minneapolis, and the birth of her daughters Katie and Andrea, the family eventually moved to Madison, and later, in 1983, to Mount Horeb. Lynn became very active in community activities with her involvement with the programs of the Mount Horeb United Methodist Church, as Song of Norway costume mistress from 1985 to 1990, as a guide at Little Norway, where she co-authored with Brian Bigler the history of the museum's Norway Building, and as a board member of the Mount Horeb Area Historical Society. While Lynn was involved with the Historical Society she initiated the idea of a newsletter to inform the members of the Society's many activities. The original newsletters were one page with a letter head artistically created by Lynn. Lynn was also instrumental in assisting with Historical Society demonstrations, exhibits, programs and in the massive cleaning of artifacts that accompanied the gift of the Montrose Store interior in February of 1988. After Lynn's move back to her beloved Minnesota in 1992, she remained in constant contact with Society president, Brian Bigler, whom she quizzed on the progress of the organization. Even after her diagnosis of cancer she made a trip last spring to see her daughter at Mount Horeb and insisted on seeing the master drawings for the new Museum facade. Lynn was very proud of how the Society had grown, especially the quality of its newsletter.
Lynn's interest in history and architecture led her back to school after her return to Minnesota and a career with two architectural drafting firms where she worked on major building restoration projects in the Minneapolis area. While she wasn't working she was gardening, decorating her home, touring historic sites, playing the piano and dulcimer, canoeing, enjoying friends, and doting over her daughters and grandchildren. Her interest in family roots led her to Sweden in May where she visited with family friend, Dr. Christer Algulander, and toured the sites of her ancestor's origins.
On Monday, June 4, 2001, just two weeks after her joyous Swedish tour, a memorial service for Lynn, which featured just a small part of the many artistic gifts she offered the world, was held at Grace-Trinity Community Church, Minneapolis, with many friends, family members and Mount Horeb acquaintances in attendance.