Obituary of Wendy Rae Amundson

Wendy Rae Amundson, 63, died March 27, 2018 at N.C. Little Memorial Hospice in Edina, MN. She was born in Minneapolis to Dorothy and Carrol Amundson, transplanted farmers of homesteading stock. She attended Richfield Public Schools and Concordia College, and received her B.A. from Moorhead State University. Wendy spent her entire life learning about the world around her. From reading every biography in her grade-school library, to learning German for a high school-sponsored trip to Austria, to becoming Minnesota Technology Writer of the Year, she sailed through any subject she tackled and continued to use that ability to become a successful freelance writer and founder of her company, Amundson Communications. Wendy contributed countless hours to friends, family and the community she lived in. She was a role model, mentor and inspiration to members of Women in Communication, Inc for 30 years, as well as its president and winner of its highest award. She served for ten years on her condo’s board of directors and taught community ESL classes to immigrants and refugees. Wendy was also the go-to person, representative and historian for a large extended family that traces its roots in America to the Mayflower and seventeenth-century Quaker communities. Wendy balanced her love of home and community with an enthusiasm for foreign travel. Whether floating down the Yangtze, Volga, or Amazon Rivers, riding camels in Egypt, or hiking the Galapagos and Machu Pichu, Wendy’s destinations always seemed exotic; she sought out and found a diverse, complicated and beautiful world. In addition to Wendy’s beloved parents, Carrol and Dorothy, Wendy is survived by four siblings; Robin Holmgren (Bradley), Jay Amundson (Terra), Sue Amundson (David Largaespada), Jill Winter (Gerard); six nieces and nephews; Joseph Holmgren (Kristen), Alyssa Holmgren Craigie (Matthew), Aaron Amundson (Laura), and Samuel, Nathan, and Anton Largaespada. Wendy always had a special place in her heart for the youngest members of her family, “The Littles.” Presently that includes Frederick Holmgren, Lillian and Olin Craigie, and Abigail and Elliot Amundson. One of Wendy’s gifts was simply keeping in touch. Her many cherished lifelong friends and dearly-loved extended family members will surely miss her cards, calls and emails. A memorial service will be held at 11AM on April 28 at Lydia Zion United Methodist Church, located at the corner of State Hwy 13 and Co Rd 10 in Lydia (1026 E. 205th St., Jordan, MN 55352). Wendy’s brother, Pastor Jay Amundson and her steadfast friend, Reverend Myles Alexander, will be officiating. Memorials may be made to Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, 4604 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55407; www.mnovarian.org.