Eileen Marie Findlay (Okland) passed away peacefully surrounded by her two daughters on Thursday, August 15th, 2024.
Eileen was born on January 16th, 1951 in Watford City, ND, to Arthur and Valora (Ennis) Okland. She graduated from Watford City High School in 1969, and moved to Minot, ND with her parents and sister Joann.
Eileen married Dennis Findlay on May 1st, 1970, in Minot, ND where they raised 2 daughters, Michelle and Nicole. They later divorced in 2005, and Eileen moved closer to her daughter and grandkids in Owatonna, MN.
Eileen was able to be a stay-at-home mom for many years. She enjoyed baking cookies, cakes, special k bars and caramel rolls for any guest she invited over. For a few years, she worked as a lunch lady at Jim Hill Junior High. She enjoyed it because she was able to work during school hours, and then was able to be home with her girls when they were home from school for the day. She later started working at Market Place Foods as a video manager, and then began working at the customer service counter. Market Place was like her 2nd home. She was passionate about this job. She loved everyone she worked with dearly, and loved making customers smile. She had a silly, fun side to her that made her fun to be around. Many have described her as a firecracker.
Eileen decided to move to Owatonna to be closer to her grandbabies and daughter. She was a wonderful, silly, loving grandma and spoiled her grandkids. She had 3 sisters, 2 daughters, and 3 granddaughters. After 4 generations she finally got a great grandson.
Eileen always had a love for animals and had many pets. She had an amazing bond with her dog Chachi until the end of her life. She loved to travel and fly in planes and was able to visit some fun and memorable destinations with her family. Her favorite places to visit were Cocoa Beach, FL and Duluth, MN.
Eileen had lots of fun going to casinos, watching Ellen DeGeneres, wheel of fortune, and the Atlanta Braves or the Minnesota Twins play baseball. In her youth, she was very musically talented. She had a beautiful singing voice, and she sang at her sister’s wedding. She also played the clarinet. She loved dressing up and would dress up every chance she got for work events, her daughters’ school events and Halloween. She was always the most festive in the room. She loved to visit her daughter Nicole in Morton, MN and watch movies. She was looking forward to going to the Seele County Fair and playing bingo with her daughter, Michelle. Her grandchildren and great grandson were the most important people to her, and made her life feel whole.
Eileen is survived by daughter Michelle Carroll (Paul Hanson) of Owatonna MN, and daughter Nicole Findlay (Ray Munoz) of Morton MN. Grandchildren Hannah Carroll, Emma Carroll, Ava Carroll, Cente Munoz, and great grandson Leyton Goerdt. Her sisters Carole Lee (Lyle Lee), and Judy Wahl (Wayne Wahl) as well as many other members of her family she loved dearly, and of course her beloved dog Chachi.
Eileen is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Valora, sister Joann Wenzel and many cousins, aunts and uncles she is happy to be reunited with again.
Per Eileen’s request, no funeral or memorial service will be held.
The family will be having a private ceremony to say their goodbyes and celebrate her life on August 29th at 1:00 p.m. at Benedictine Living Community, located at 2255 30th St. NW, Owatonna, MN 55060.
If you would like to send a sympathy card, or just share some memories, you can mail them to Michelle Carroll at 775 Willowbrook Dr., Owatonna, MN, 55060.
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