Joanne Aslesen Lindlan

JOANNE PUGH ASLESEN LINDLAN, 86, passed away in her home surrounded by family after a courageous battle with cancer.

Joanne was born April 17, 1932, to Naida Pugh. She graduated high school in 1950 from Ruthton, Minnesota and continued her education at the University of Minnesota, but came home to Pipestone, Minnesota to marry Erik Aslesen on July 12, 1953. They soon had a daughter (Gaye Lynn) and a son (Erik Jay). Jo was a house flipper. House to house each becoming her project. She was extremely involved with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and 4H as Gaye and Erik grew up. At this time, she also worked for Dr. Bill Yseth as a receptionist and technician. Moving from Pipestone to Hopkins, Minnesota with Erik’s job change, she found her own and began to teach dental assisting at the Minnesota Dental Institute. From there the next move was to Overland Park, Kansas, where she studied hard getting her real estate license and worked for J Lester Brown group. Her biggest achievement was selling houses to Kansas City Chiefs Lenny Dawson and Bobby Bell.

Next move was to Fargo, North Dakota in 1972, where she was involved with props, designing, and making costumes for the Fargo Civic Opera and continuing in real estate with Belmont Gallery of Homes. Divorcing Erik in 1975, her next move was to Phoenix, Arizona where she began restaurant work for Jerry Buss. Moving back to Minnesota in 1980 she worked at North Beach Resort in Park Rapids as a restaurant manager honing her culinary and planning skills. Yet she moved on to Richfield, Minnesota with her best friend, Sharon Keers, and began to work for Lifetouch Photography. She loved working with the camera and taking college graduation to preschool pictures but not hauling all the heavy equipment. In 1996 she and Sharon moved to Marshall, Minnesota closer to family.
In 2006 she married her John Lindlan. In 2012 at 80 years old, Jo discovered her father was Edward Crimmens.

Jo enjoyed reading, traveling, cooking, baking, painting, dominoes, knitting baby blankets, and many BS vacations.

She is survived by her husband, John Lindlan of Hopkins; daughter, Gaye (Allan) Winter of Canby, Minnesota; son, Erik (Twila) of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota; Stepdaughters, Pam (Kevin) Keough of Arkansas, Kari Jo (Rick) Passman of Nevada. Grandchildren, Christian (Jessica) Winter, Andy Winter, and Aaron (Katie) Aslesen; step grandchildren, Scott (Tiffany) Jereska, Thomas (Julie) Jereska, Lucas Jereska; 12 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren; brother, James (Lucinda) Saunders of Clermont, Florida; sisters, Sandra Saunders Powell of Marshall, and Jackie (Bob) Meyer of Marshall; and many, many, more loving relatives and friends!
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Erik; her parents; and her sister, Donna Saunders Wille.

Be pain free and with all your friends and relatives playing cards and dominos!


Memorials can be sent to Our Saviours Lutheran Canby Minnesota ‘Blanket” account for oncology unit, Lake Superior Zoo, Bear Country, Duluth, Minnesota, and Breastcancer.org