Luella Mae Burns

On Palm Sunday, April 13, we said goodbye to our mom, Luella Mae (Syhre) Burns. She made her way home peacefully surrounded by the love of her family in St. Louis Park, MN, after a brief hospital stay and hospice care at home.

She was born in Pierpont, SD to Olaf and Emma Syhre, May 29, 1933. Mom shared many stories of growing up on the farm, being the youngest of five children. Right after graduating high school, she married the love of her life, Donald J Burns, on August 25, 1951. They spent months traveling the country, to Cape Cod, Denver and to San Antonio and El Paso, TX, while Don was serving in the US Air Force. Daughter Jacqueline was born in El Paso in March 1953, and then Don shipped out to Japan shortly thereafter. Don returned stateside after 15 months. The three of them eventually made their home in Minneapolis, MN. Second daughter, Teresa, was born in Minneapolis in Oct 1956. The family then moved to Coon Rapids, MN in 1957. Third daughter, Janet, was born the following spring, May 1958. Mom lived in this same home for 57 years! She enjoyed her vegetable garden, as well as her flowers of Gladiola’s, Pansies and Marigolds. There were many wonderful neighborhood parties, and she was blessed with great neighbors throughout the years. We cherish all the adventurous (and relaxing) camping trips, and dancing mom and dad did together. Mom was also a diehard MN Twins fan, through good times and bad!

Don and Luella were members of Faith Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids and Luella continued as a member until her death.

Don sadly passed away in October 1986. Luella moved to St Louis Park with Teri and Steve in 2014. She was employed by Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District as payroll clerk for 29 years.

Luella is preceded in death by her parents, Olaf and Emma Syhre, brothers Clifford, Levern and Maynard Syhre, and sister Emogene (Syhre) Ives.

She is survived by daughters Jackie Burns, Teri (Steve) Carlson, and Janet Burns. She has two grandchildren, Matthew Kostka and Kellen Kostka, and one great grandchild, Adrian (Erin) Palmer.

We will all miss her very much. She touched so many lives in her quietly spoken words and kind deeds. We’re so relieved she’s not in pain any longer, and back in dads loving arms. We’re sure they’re dancing or bowling or camping (or all of it)!

Our heartfelt thanks to the nurses and doctors at Methodist Hospital, as well as the Park Nicollet Methodist Hospice team. They guided us through these final days with great compassion.

A family celebration of life will be determined for a later date.

Luella will be interred at Morningside Memorial Gardens, Coon Rapids.