Freya Kask

Freya Leah was born on September 11, 1926 in Taylors Falls, Minnesota to Eliot and Merle (Ramey) Martinson, the 4th of 7 children. She was pre-deceased by brother Eliot Jr. (age 6), parents, sister Lucille Christensen, and brother Sidney Martinson (April 2017). She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Earle Kask; children, Pam (Ted) Benson of Roberts, WI, Karen (Max) de Freitas of Mandeville, LA, and Gerald Kask of Lake Elmo, MN; grandchildren and great grandchildren, Caroline Benson (Chad Triplett, fiancee) of Aliso Viejo, CA, Bill Benson of St. Paul, MN, Mark (Jennifer) Benson and children Alethia & Henry of Oshkosh, WI, Andrea de Freitas and children Parker & Evan of Mandeville, LA, Tony (Tiffany) de Freitas of Arvada, CO, Wayne Kask and son, Skyler of Excelsior, MN, and Melanie (Jesse) Zamzow of Winthrop and children Tyson, Blake, Preston, and Caleb.

Freya attended school in Taylors Falls where she played the piano and played in the school band. She earned money babysitting and worked at a concession stand at Interstate Park. She told us about walking up the steep hill to school. Freya graduated from Taylors Falls High School in 1944 as the salutatorian. After high school, Freya was working as a secretary at Studebaker in Minneapolis, MN when she met her future husband, Earle Kask, at a dance in Forest Lake, MN. After dating, they married at the Taylors Falls Methodist Church on April 28, 1951. They lived at an apartment in Minneapolis for a short time and then started their family and moved to Earle's former rental home in Spring Lake Park, MN. Freya quit working outside of the home after marriage and began her homemaking career while Earle continued working at Swift in South St. Paul. Pam, Karen, and Gerald were born in 1951, 1952, and 1954. In 1960, the family moved to Lake Elmo after building a new brick home. A few years after the move to Lake Elmo, Freya went back to work as a secretary to help support the family. In 1966, Freya began her career at the State American Legion Office near the Capitol. She retired from the Legion in 1992 after working there for 26 years.

After the move to Lake Elmo, the family joined the First United Methodist Church in Stillwater where Freya at times taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, helped with greeters, helped with the Wednesday night suppers, worked in the church kitchen, helped with the church bulletin, was a member of the Women's Circle, and baked many cakes, bars, & cookies for bake sales.

Freya and Earle did some traveling during their marriage. Early on, Freya and Earle took fishing trips to Canada. Later family trip destinations included Canada, Yellowstone Park, and the East and West Coast for visits with family. Trips taken after retiring included visits to Alaska, Hawaii (with neighbors), and a trip to Norway (with family members) where she and Earle met over 100 of her dad's family in Oslo and more at a town hall gathering in Boo, Norway. Other trips were taken to visit Karen, Max and family in Houston, TX where they used to live. The most recent trip Freya and Earle took was in 2012 when Earle drove to Mandeville, LA for grandson Tony's wedding.

Freya enjoyed cooking family meals, hosting holiday get-togethers, visiting with family and friends, and going to the annual family reunion at Ann & Ted's in Frederic, WI. She liked watching "Wheel of Fortune", followed the Twins baseball team, and read the paper.

Besides her involvement with the church, Freya went with Earle to Taylors Falls Historical Society meetings, St. Croix Valley Rock Club, and senior bowling in Bayport, MN. She and Earle were members of the Bayport American Legion.

Freya and Earle went out to eat at local restaurants after Freya could no longer cook. They enjoyed meeting and visiting with all they saw. Freya lived at home until the last 3 months of her life when her health deteriorated. She went to stay at Greeley Estates in Stillwater where Earle visited her every day and she received excellent care. She also received wonderful care during her recent stay at Lakeview Hospital. Mom was known for her smiles and hugs.

Memorials are preferred to the First United Methodist Church of Stillwater.