Anne-Lise Kloster

Anne-Lise “Lilleba” Kloster passed away peacefully at home on November 4, 2021. Lilleba was born in Oslo, Norway on September 25, 1929 to Albert and Kitty (nee Gunnufsen) Persen. She studied physical therapy and worked in Oslo, Denmark and Iceland specializing in polio and paraplegic patients. In Iceland she met and married Donald Everett Kloster (1929-2008) who was in Reykjavik with the US Army. They married in 1959 and their first son Nels was born in Reykjavik. Don got a job with the Smithsonian Institution in Military History and they settled in Alexandria VA. The family soon welcomed their son Erik and a few years later their daughter Karen.

Lilleba worked as a physical therapist throughout her life in nursing facilities and private medical practices until she retired. Since 1960, Lilleba was engaged with all of the local Norwegian organizations in the Washington DC area: Norwegian Seaman’s Church, Norwegian Society (President in 1987 and 1988), Norwegian Ladies Club, Sons of Norway (head of the church committee 1984-96). She was active in the annual Norwegian Church Bazaars. She celebrated her heritage proudly and wore her bunad (Norwegian costume) at the annual Norwegian Independence Day celebrations.

Since 1970, she regularly attended church services at Messiah Lutheran Church and very much enjoyed monthly luncheons with the Red Hat Society.

She was devoted to her family and enjoyed outdoor activities. We all fondly remember her cross-country skiing to a hair appointment in Old Town Alexandria in the middle of a snowstorm. She continued going to the gym 3 days a week well into her 80s and was an inspiration to others as she completed her treadmill sessions. She enjoyed good conversations and catching up with her neighbors and felt fortunate to have so many friends nearby.

She is survived by her 3 children, their spouses and 4 grandchildren: Nels (Luanne) Annelise and Connor Kloster (Marlboro, VT); Erik (Betty Jean) Madison and Olivia Kloster (McLean, VA); and Karen (Butch Kaeppel) Morgan (Vernon, VT) plus extensive family in Norway: She was preceded by her husband of 49 years, Don Kloster.

Memorial contributions can be sent in her name to one of two organizations, the Norwegian Seaman’s Church in NY (Sjømannskirken i New York, 317 E 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022 https://www.sjomannskirken.no/new-york/gi/

Or to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 https://donate.guidingeyes.org/

Funeral services will be Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 11am at Nativity Lutheran Church, 1300 Collingwood Rd, Alexandria VA 22308 and inurnment will be Arlington National Cemetery at a private service at a future date.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.DemaineFuneralHomes.com for the Kloster family.