Born on August 14th, 1934 in International Falls MN. She passed on January 14th, 2023 at Ridgeview Assisted Living. Her parents were Elma Kennedy) and Orin Tollefsrud.
Sue attended nurses training at St. Lukes, in Duluth MN. She became a Registered Nurse August 1st, 1956. She married Earl Fisher and settled in Virgina MN. They had three children, Earl (Bud), Patty Sue, and Ann. Her career as an RN began at the Eveleth Nursing Home and then progressed to Administrator at the Virginia Nursing Home.
Sue and daughter Ann moved to International Falls in 1972 and she began an RN job in Littlefork. She married Randy Bowman and later started nursing at the Falls Hospital. She had many good friends there and worked in a variety of positions. She worked the floor as RN many years and then worked as Discharge Planner. She then became the first Infection Control Officer. Sue cared very sincerely for the patients and enjoyed her work.
Fishing, partridge and deer hunting, were Sue’s favorite hobbies. In the summer as a teen, she worked at her sister Kay’s and Brother-in-Law Ed’s resort (Wilsons Rocky Lake Camp) in Jones Ontario. Later in life, she and Randy spent a lot of time there visiting, fishing, and hunting with family. Sue also assisted Kay at times with guest meals, cabin cleaning, etc.
Randy lost to cancer, at the young age of 48. Sue found a lot of support with her family. She was very close with her siblings, children, and grandchildren. She spent many afternoons with sister Mary and family on the deck and occasionally a cocktail.
Eventually, she was introduced to Don Carrier. He was a loving wonderful companion. May 12th, 2000, they married, and they enjoyed their home in Ranier. They loved to sit on the porch to experience Rainy Lake and the lively goings on at their corner, across from the Ranier beach. The 1st and 4th of July were always a favorite time. Family would get together, celebrate, and watch the fireworks.
Fishing at the English River and staying at Kay and Ed’s Rocky Lake Camp in the summer was also a big portion of summer fun. They made numerous trips to the Sheep Ranch hunting shack, to hunt partridge and prepare for deer season. They were able to do some travel and began to winter in Gulf Shores AL. Sister Sandy and her husband Tom, also wintered in the same condo complex.
Following Don’s passing, Sue moved next door to Ann and David. Having family support and company was a good thing and allowed her to remain in a place of her own. Her health began to decline, and she later needed additional care and found that at Ridgeview LLC. She faced a struggle with nearly total blindness and needed eye treatment out of town during the pandemic, with limited mobility. She required surgery for Glaucoma. One of her doctors commented to her that she was “One Tough Chick from Up North”. That she was! Sue’s blindness was then complicated with dementia. Ridgeview staff was very kind did a good job helping her become part of a caring, small community. We enjoyed visiting her there in such a homey environment and she was very content with her care.
Sue is survived by daughter Ann (David) Bzdok (Intl Falls MN); Daughter-in-laws Pat Fisher (Maplewood MN); Jill (Dwight) Wait (Duluth MN); Grandsons Brent (Chelsey) Bzdok (Intl Falls MN), Sean Fisher (Duluth MN) and granddaughter Jessica (Ross) Pearson (Wrenshall MN); Great grandchildren Lola Hall, Braxton Bzdok, Kayden Bzdok, Jude Pearson and Lane Pearson; Brother-in-law Tom Schaaf (Intl Falls MN); Step children Dennis (Kathy) Carrier (Peru NY), Wayne (Diane) Carrier (Gillette WY), Sherry (Steve) Gunberg (Steamboat, CO), Mark (Mara) Carrier (Intl Falls MN) and numerous step grandchildren, step great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Orin and Elma Tollefsrud; Infant Daughter Patty Sue Fisher; son Bud Fisher, brother Orin Tollefsrud, and sisters Elizabeth Jozwick, Kathleen Wilson, Mary Johnston, Sandy Schaaf, Sister-in-law Jean Tollefsrud, brothers-in law Ed Wilson, Martin Jozwick, Ken Johnston A memorial service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church on Thursday January 19th at 1pm. Memorials to Zion Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers are preferred.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc.
