Julia Tonder

Julia Adeline Tonder (Edwards) passed away on Good Friday April 3rd, 2026 at the age of 89 after being diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2025.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00AM on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, with a visitation beginning at 10:00AM. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Julia was born May 15, 1936, in Ada, MN to first generation Norwegian Americans, Carl and Brynhilde Edwards. Julia was an only child living on an 80-acre farm, attended a 1-room rural school for first grade and then rode a bus for the next 11 years to Ada, MN, where she graduated as valedictorian. Julia continued her education at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN graduating with a bachelor’s degree. Singing was very important to Julia throughout her life. In 1958 she toured Norway and six European countries singing in the Concordia Choir with Paul J. Christiansen as the director. This trip also allowed her to make her first visit to many friends and relatives her mother knew while living in Norway.

Julia married Marine and schoolteacher (Paul) Larry Tonder, on June 17, 1962 at East Marsh River Lutheran Church in rural Halstad, MN. She had taught High School English and Social Studies in Clinton, MN, for 4 years, and the newlyweds moved to the Twin Cities where Julia taught in Robbinsdale, MN for 3 years. In 1966 their first son, Steven, was born and they moved to Albert Lea, MN. Julia stayed home with 3 children for thirteen years while tutoring at Lea College for English Composition and singing (in English and Norwegian) as a soloist at many funerals. She returned to full time teaching at Southwest Jr. High until retiring in 1998. A subsequent trip to visit relatives in Norway resulted in several more visits over the years back to Norway which they both enjoyed so much.

Music was important in Julia’s life. She sang with Minneapolis Madrigal Singers 1962-1966 and then in Albert Lea for 45 years as a charter member of the Cantori Choir and with the First Lutheran Church choir until age 80. She was an avid seamstress and gardener, enjoyed refinishing antique furniture and home renovations, and became a passionate genealogist and family historian who could read church records posted online in Norwegian and used that information to fill out a family history, in some cases back to the late 1600s. Julia was active at church, serving several years as an FLCW officer and in calendar year 2026 still participated in circle, quilting, and hardanger.

Julia is survived by her husband of 63 years Larry Tonder; three children: Steven (Lisa) Tonder of New Brighton, MN, Sarah (Michael) Graham of Denver CO, and Eric (Wendi) Tonder of Fairmont, MN; six granddaughters: Ellie (Cole), Abigail (Connor), Emma, Nichole, Lillia, Kristina; and one great grandson, Emmett. Julia was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Brynhilde Edwards.