Sally Evangeline Femrite was born to Mabel and Edwin Amundson on April 26, 1919. She grew up on a farm south of Starbuck. Sally was active at Fron Lutheran church, the 4-H club and the Starbuck City Band. She was an excellent trumpet player and played in the band with her dad, uncle Casper Amundson and her pastor Casper Johnshoy. The love of music persisted throughout her life and she participated in many choirs. After graduation from Humboldt School of Business in Minneapolis, Sally returned to Starbuck and was a secretary in the Pope County Welfare Department. She met Sig Femrite through family members and they were married in June 1942. Sig was in the Navy at the time and Sally continued to work until January of 1944, when Sig's ship was in dry dock. Sally joined Sig in Manhattan until his ship went back to the South Pacific in August. She returned to her Starbuck home and Susan was born in October. Shortly after Sig's return from the war they moved to Fort Snelling in St. Paul. Stephen was born while they lived there. In 1951, they purchased a home in South Minneapolis and lived there until 1963. Stacy was born in this home. During her South Minneapolis years, Sally was a stay-at-home mom involved in her church teaching Sunday School and Bible school, choir, mother's club, room mother, Brownie leader, and a wonderful mother. She even baked lefse for a sixth grade class of 30 at school when they were studying Norway. Tailoring and cake decorating classes were also activities that Sally pursued with her usual perfectionist spirit. She was a beautiful seamstress, making everything from suits to formals and her cakes were not only delicious, but beautiful creations. In 1963, Sally and Sig moved to Hampton, Virginia. Sally worked at Miller and Rhodes Department Store. They were active in their church, the Fort Monroe Officers Club and made the trip back to Minnesota every summer. When Sig retired in 1972, they moved back to Minnesota. They built their own home overlooking Lake Minnewaska next door to Sig's brother, Harold. They joined Sig's home church, Barsness Lutheran Church. Sally, Sig and Stacy all sang in the choir. She was also active in the Ladies Aid. Glenwood Retirement Community gave her the opportunity to use her secretarial skills as secretary to the Director of Nursing. When Sig died in 1976, Sally lost the love of her life and her best friend. Sally had many hobbies knitting, embroidery, gardening, reading, playing the organ, cards, golf and crafts of many varieties. Everything she did with perfection. She even cut her baked bars in absolutely straight lines. Sally and Sig also loved fishing and had many fun times with family and friends. Sally loved her family and enjoyed her grandchildren, Christopher, Kari, Jason and Stephanie. When her father's home farm came back into the family, Sally was a willing worker doing everything from scrubbing to plastering. As Alzheimer's disease robbed her of her memory and she didn't recognize her family, she still knew the Amundson farm and expected her aunt and uncle to be there. Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Mabel Thompson Amundson and Edwin Amundson and her husband, Sigvold E. Femrite. Sally is survived by her children: Susan (Greg) Walling of Starbuck and Minneapolis, Stephen (Sharon) Femrite of Baltimore, MD and Stacy (Gar) Herfindahl of Glenwood; grandchildren: Christopher (Peggy) Walling of Denver, CO, Kari Walling of Minneapolis, Jason (Liz) Femrite and Stephanie Femrite, both of Baltimore, MD; great grandchildren: Anna, Caitlin, Matthew, and Jonah Walling; sisters: Myra Knutson of Minneapolis and Dorothy Coy of Danvers; and other relatives and friends.
