$10,000 spent from Lou Nylen estate for library

Lou Nylen estate left $10,000 to the Clearbrook-Gonvick school. The donation was to be used only for the school library.

Elsie Ballard, the Computer Tech, Librarian, Test Administrator, Point of Sale-Lunch Lady at the school said that the donation was greatly appreciated.

Ballard said, “they purchased approximately 200 books, and they also purchased a projector, screen, camera (with a lot of accessories), a new computer system for checking out books, a wireless scanner, materials, labels and supplies for marking books for checkout, some wall art.”

Furniture for the library was also purchased with the money for students to use.

Lou Ann Nylen the daughter of Dr. Ruben and Mildred Anderson of Clearbrook was a 1954 graduate of Clearbrook High School.

She loved to teach; she also taught Art in several area schools, touching many lives until she retired. She enjoyed making pottery, drawing, painting, photography and especially taking care of her geese and ducks. 

Lou Ann Nylen, 77 of Duluth, passed away after a long struggle with her illness, on Monday, August 18, 2014. Funeral services where on August 25, 2014 under the direction of the Dougherty Funeral Home in Duluth.

Her father Ruben was born in Donnelly and her mother Mildred in Bobells, North Dakota. They met in Barrett and in 1928 Dr. and Mrs. Anderson moved to Clearbrook and started a practice. They lived upstairs in the Mercantile Store and had a long stairway with the office upstairs. The location is the current site of Bakken’s Market in Clearbrook.

Lou is survived by her son, Rod Steele, sister, Joanne Jarrgues; longtime friend and caregiver, Patti Erickson; grandchildren, Joshua E. Lucas and Jacob A. Halbrook, and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and son Jay Steele.