The Memorial service for Gracia D. Fredriksen will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday October 8, 2013 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Rochester, with Pastor Fred Rengstorf officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood East Cemetery in Rochester. Visitation will be held from 12:00p.m.to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the church.

Mrs. Fredriksen, 78, of Rochester, died Thursday October 3, 2013 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Gracia was born March 11, 1935 in Minneapolis to Morton and Bertha Kartavold Nilssen. Gracia was raised in Forest City, Iowa, and she graduated high school from Waldorf Academy in Forest City in 1952.She was a Curved Bar Girl Scout, and graduated from Waldorf College in 1954 and Luther College in 1956 Gracia sang in the Waldorf and Luther College Choirs. On December 22, 1957 Gracia married Arnold Fredriksen at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, Iowa. She received her Master's Degree in 1986 from Hamline University, and taught elementary school in Fairmont, Austin, and she taught school in Rochester from 1962 to 1995. Mr. Fredriksen worked for IBM in Rochester .

Survivors include her husband Arnold, Son Eric of Rochester, Daughter Martha Thielke of Rochester and son Ted of Rochester. She is also survived by two grandsons, Samuel and Izaak Thielke of Rochester, and one sister, Connie (Harvey) Nyhus of Forest City, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother TedNilssen, and Son-in-law Joel Theilke.

Gracia Loved to knit, read, bake, and do rosemaling. She also enjoyed playing the piano and organ, making jewelry, and crafts, and caring for her house plants. She was a Girl Scout Leader, a Cub Scout Den Mother and Coach, and also president of Tops and Kops.

Memorials are preferred to Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Rochester.

Macken Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com