In Honor of Valborg Tollefsrud, RN, BSN  

By Ann Rabie RN (Region 3)

I first met Valborg in 1958 at Fairview Hospital, where she was teaching Nursing.  She was very helpful and supportive of us as the first class of the St. Olaf College Nursing program.

She went on to earn both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Education in Nursing at the University of MN and became a Professor at St. Olaf.  She was excellent in that position and took groups of Nursing Students to Vellore, India for courses in the “Provision of Health Care in a 3rd World Setting”.  After 11 such educational trips St. Olaf chose to prohibit full semesters for off campus senior students.   Valborg immediately re-organized that program to fit in the J term and so in January, 1993, she and 11 students, including myself and a friend (also a student of Valborg ) had an amazing learning experience!

Valborg has amazing stamina!   In India, the students called her the “Blue Streak”.  None of us could keep up with her (and she wore blue clothing most days so we could see her up ahead). 

Valborg influenced my life in many ways. We both served on the Global Health Ministry Board.  She was also one of the first Board Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Parish Nurse Association (ELPNA).   She was the inspiration for me to take the Parish Nurse course at Luther Seminary as soon as I retired from my Nurse Midwife position in 2001.

Valborg became the first Parish Nurse at Redeemer Lutheran Church and served there until 2005 when the church was sold.  She continued caring for 31 members of that congregation and she still today serves the remaining 8 of those members with telephone calls as needed every week.

She has served on several boards including, but not limited to the Education Board of the Faith Community Nurse Network of the Twin Cities (FCNN) and on ELPNA committees such as Outreach/Mission. 

ELPNA is grateful for the inspiration that Valborg has provided to students, alumni, parish nurses and our organization.  She consistently and resolutely instills the values of professionalism and excellence.  She is a role model and leader that will inspire and strengthen our future as an organization that serves Lutheranism.    

In Valborg’s honor, the St. Olaf alumni, class of 1965 made a gift to ELPNA in 2015.  These funds and other gifts received in memory of Valborg at the time of her death, will be used to fund one of ELPNA's educational events each year. The event will be called "The Annual Valborg Tollefsrud Educational Event". To God be the glory for all that Valborg has done to nurture hearts and lives and to deepen our collective commitment to serving God’s people.  

In Memory of Valborg Tollefsrud

by Phyllis Bruce, RN, MA (Region 3)

In August 2021 the LFCNA Membership Committee made a recommendation to the Board of Directors that Valborg Tollefsrud become o ur first Honorary Lifetime Member Emeritus. Valborg is pictured above holding her framed certificate. On September 10, I had the privilege of meeting with Valborg in her apartment and presenting this certificate to her. She asked me to convey her deep appreciation for this honor. 

A Valborg Tollefsrud Scholarship Fund was started by some of her former students in her honor and the ELPNA Board of Directors recommended that these funds be used for an annual educational event. 

Valborg was able to remain in her apartment until she passed away on October 22.

The Celebration of her life was November 1, 2021, at her church, Minnehaha Communion Lutheran. It was just after Reformation Sunday and on All Saint’s Day! Reverend Lee Halstrom wondered in his message if she had planned it this way, just as she had planned her service! Valborg had been in church the prior Sunday and had planned, with Rev. Halstrom, to give a talk on stewardship the next Sunday. She wanted her talk and had planned her memorial service to be about serving God and not about her. Truly, Valborg is a model of living fully whatever our circumstances. Her service was attended by her few family members, but mainly by her former students, parish nurse colleagues, and church friends. We lifted up our voices together in singing the grand Lutheran hymns; A Mighty Fortress is Our God, My God How Wonderful Thou Art, My Jesus I Love Thee, and Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past. Many wonderful stories were shared about her as we had lunch together following the service. Her presence will be missed here but celebrated in heaven!