Laura Frykman passed away peacefully, Friday, December 21, 2012. She was born to Mark N. Gustavson and Anna Charlotte Erickson December 12, 1910 at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, IL. She was the eldest daughter of the three children born to the couple. Laura’s parents emigrated as small children from Sweden to Chicago, where Laura grew up with her siblings. She was educated at North Park Academy, University of Illinois and graduated with a B.A. from Northwestern University. Laura began her teaching career by teaching Latin to North Park College (now North Park University) students for a year prior to her marriage in 1936 to Malcolm Northrop Frykman.
Laura and Nort had four children: Mark Andrew, Nancy Laura, Lisbeth Anne, and Peter Northrop. Laura had strong family ties; she acted as her children’s Boy Scout and Girl Scout troop leader and self-appointed “nature-lecturer” during frequent family camping and road trips. She was involved in every aspect of her children’s lives and never missed an opportunity to share in their activities, small and large, from music to sporting events. She continued this enthusiastic support for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Laura returned to educating others after raising her own family. She taught elementary school in Colorado Springs, CO and beginning in 1964, at Julien School in Turlock. She was a devoted, energetic and enthusiastic teacher and enjoyed her teaching years very much. Laura retired from teaching in 1972, moving with Nort and son Peter to Santa Barbara, CA, a city they loved.
Laura was predeceased by her parents, siblings, as well as her husband Malcolm Northrop Frykman and son Mark Andrew Frykman. Laura is survived by her three youngest children Nancy, Lisbeth, and Peter. She is also well represented in this life by four grandchildren: Laura Lanza (Philadelphia), Leisa Machado (Turlock), Susan Nadsady (Jay, FL), and Daniel Jordan (Los Angeles). Especially important to Laura were her great-grandchildren: Laura and Analiese Machado, Maxwell and Dylan Nadsady, and Alea and Michael Scannell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Turlock Covenant Church and/or Covenant Village Benevolent Fund.
A memorial service will be held at Covenant Village of Turlock, Berg Hall, 2125 N. Olive Ave., Saturday, January 26 at 10:00 A.M.
www.turlockmemorialpark.com