Lila Mae M. Nordlie

Lila Mae Nordlie, 89, of Stoughton, Wisconsin, passed away at the Skaalen Retirement Center on December 1, 2023.

Lila was born on December 27^, 1933, in Goodhue, Minnesota, to Mathilda (Rusch) Mickelson and Clarence Mickelson. She graduated from Goodhue High School and Bethany Lutheran College. She received a call to teach at Western Koshkonong Lutheran School where she met and married Phillip Nordlie in 1955.

Lila Mae and Phillip were married for 43 years, raised three children and farmed in the Stoughton area.

Lila Mae enjoyed serving her church in various capacities and could always be counted on to bring food for any church event.  Lila Mae was the classic farm wife; she somehow managed a large garden, dressed chickens, sold eggs, made quilts, helped raise tobacco, outworked her sons and still found time to serve her church.  She volunteered for many years at Twice-as-Nice in Jefferson and was always proud to show off the bargains she found there.  Her favorite game was Scrabble and she wasn’t above using a dictionary to “check the spelling”.   She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spent many hours playing games with them around her kitchen table.

A funeral service will be held at Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church on December 6, 2023 at 11 am. The burial will follow in the church cemetery. Following the burial, there will be a luncheon in the church basement. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be given to Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church or Bethany Lutheran College.

Lila Mae is survived by her three children, Mark of Stoughton, Wisconsin, Jane Moeller (Peter) of Charleston, South Carolina, and Eric Nordlie (Rachel) of Lake Orion, Michigan;  grandchildren Nathan Moeller, Samantha Eich (Matt), Bethany Mayes (Micah), Nicola Mullins (Kyle), Noah Nordlie (Madeline), Benjamin Moeller, and Max Nordlie and great-grandchildren Logan and Felix Myziuk, Simeon, Magdalena, Miriam and Phillip Mullins, and a soon to be born great-granddaughter to be named Lila Rose Mayes.

Lila was preceded in death by her husband Phillip, parents Clarence and Mathilda Mickelson, in-laws Alfred and Charlotte Nordlie.

In her final years Lila Mae was blessed in so many ways by all who helped her continue to lead a full life.  The family would like to express their thanks to all those who visited her, and for the love, support an accommodation by Pastor Saari and her church family at Western Koshkonong.  They are also so grateful for the exceptional care and compassion provided by the staff at the Skaalen Retirement home.  

Visitation will be from 3-6:00 PM on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at Cress Funeral Home STOUGHTON.  Visitation will continue from 10-11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church, 2633 Church Street, Cottage Grove, WI 53527 with a funeral service to begin at 11:00 AM.  Lila Mae will be brought to her final place of rest at Western Koshkonong Cemetery immediately following the service.

If you are not able to join the family at church, please register at the following link to view a copy of the service: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=ced5e7f4-f839-45fe-9059-5c75427e0d89 

Cress Funeral Home Stoughton

608-872-9244