Obituary of Louise P Taraldsen

Louise P. Taraldsen, 84, passed peacefully on July 2, 2020 in her home. Louise was born on May 23, 1936 to Adolph and Evelyn (Wright) Paoletti in Duluth, MN, and was a life-long resident of Duluth. While her first five years were spent at 6th Ave W. and 2nd St, the family then moved to West Duluth where Louise attended Longfellow Elementary, West Junior High School, and graduated from Duluth Denfeld in 1954. She and her sister Lorraine enjoyed sharing many entertaining stories of their young lives on 59th Ave. W.

On August 31, 1957, Louise married John Taraldsen, and they moved into the Taraldsen family home on Skyline Parkway. She and John lived there for their entire 55-year marriage until his death in May of 2013. Together they raised 4 children and their home became a popular place for friends and family gatherings. In 2015, Louise moved back down the hill to her beloved West Duluth and her cozy apartment became a regular stopping place for her kids, grandkids, great grandkids and a few grand-dogs.

After high school, Louise began nursing school, but changed course and pursued medical transcription. Once her kids were older, she went back to work at Cloquet Memorial Hospital as a medical transcriptionist for many years, enjoying the friendships she developed with her co-workers. She continued to gather occasionally with them long after her retirement in 1996.

Louise and John purchased lake property north of Duluth on Schaeffer Lake and in the early 1960s, began building the first of 2 family cabins. Early years at the lake weren’t always easy with little kids, diapers, hauling water, and incessant bugs, but she was a good sport and participated fully in the many family gatherings that continue there today. Electricity and running water helped make cabin life much easier! When they weren’t working or spending time with their kids, John and Louise traveled all over the United States. They were able to visit 48 of the 50 states, and Louise expanded her travels with her daughter and granddaughter on trips to Europe. After John’s death, she managed to make a few memorable winter getaways to Florida and California.

Louise was a long-standing member of Asbury United Methodist Church and enjoyed services, making pasties, donuts and pies, and helping with rummage sales and the like. Her church friends were some of her closest over many years. In addition to her church friends, she continued to gather with her Denfeld friends over long lunches at Fosters Restaurant in Hermantown.

Louise is survived by her children, Karen (Bill) Anderson, John (Joy) Taraldsen, Jim (Theresa) Taraldsen and Paul (Cindy) Taraldsen; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Stephanie (William Palmer) Anderson and her children, Nico and Nina; Matt (Michael) Taraldsen; Elisabeth (Corey) Meyer, and their son, Henry; Torie, Nicole, and Natalie Taraldsen, as well as her sister, Lorraine Pollard, along with many nieces and nephews. She was well-loved, and will be missed by many. In addition to John, she was preceded in death by her parents, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Due to current COVID restrictions, there is no public service scheduled at this time. Memorials preferred to CHUM or Asbury United Methodist Church, both in Duluth.