Lillian E. Finstad

Lillian Evelyn Finstad, 96, passed away September 14, 2022, at Saybrook Landing in Saybrook, Ohio.  Lillian was born April 28, 1926, the daughter of Erland and Bernice (Larson) Hanson in Renville County,  Minnesota.

On Sept. 6, 1947, Lillian married Clayton E. Finstad, the love of her life and husband  of 51 years. Clayton’s job as a dredger on a drill boat took them to many places, and they moved often  until settling in Geneva in 1963.

Lillian was the lady her daughters wanted to be when they grew up. Not content to be an active and  devoted member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Geneva, she also served in many church groups,  such as the WOTO Club, Altar Guild, the handbell choir, sewing groups, and Woman’s Guild, plus would  help organize and man activities like rummage sales, bake sales, and luncheons. She was always ready to  lend a hand, provide encouragement, or just be a good listener.

She was a volunteer for the Red Cross and during election season she volunteered for the board of  elections. She also enjoyed gardening, playing the piano, traveling, crossword puzzles, cards, jigsaw  puzzles, and working on plastic canvas. She was the family historian and all admired her phenomenal  organizational skills. She was blessed to be a stay-at-home mom to raise the kids, and for Lillian, being a  mother and a wife was the greatest job ever. 

Lillian would take the kids to visit Clayton while he worked away from their home in Geneva. She  and Clayton took many family trips as well. They both loved their country, and a lot of the trips would  be along historical lines; Gettysburg, the Liberty Bell, and Monticello are just a few places visited on a  long list of memorable vacations together.

Surviving her are her six children: Beth (Colin) Carney of Geneva; Helen (Leigh) Doroba of Ashtabula; Kat  (Paul) Marak of Marana, Arizona; Deb (Bryan) Childers of Tucson, Arizona; Kevin Finstad  of Pinehurst, Texas; and Jo (Mike Bohn) Finstad of Winter Springs, Florida; 14 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren, as well as two brothers: Everett Hanson and Larry (Sharon) Hanson of  Fairfax, Minnesota; a cousin, Kristi Halverson of Marysville, WA., and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1998, a son in infancy, a sister-in law, Arlyn  Hanson, a daughter, Peggy (Margaret Finstad) Adams, and her daughter-In-law, Bonnie J. Finstad.

Her services will be held on October 22nd, 11AM at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 811 South Broadway,  Geneva, Ohio. Per Lillian’s wishes, the family will be honoring her by wearing something blue, her  favorite color. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to St John’s Lutheran Church in Geneva,  or to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Private burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery on Eastwood Street, in Geneva, Ohio.

The Fleming & Billman Funeral Home, 323 South Broadway, Geneva is honored to serve the Lillian  Finstad Family.

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