Elsie Adair Bakke Meyer
Elsie Adair Bakke Meyer, 79, of Bemidji, MN passed away at home peacefully surrounded by family on June 27, 2021. She was a loyal and loving mother, sister, aunt and friend who will be dearly missed.
Elsie was born on March 12, 1942 in Park Rapids, MN to parents Judith Eleanor Wold Bakke and Minor Norman Bakke. The family moved to Bemidji, MN early in her life and she was raised there with her 3 siblings. She graduated from Bemidji High School in 1960 and enrolled at Bemidji State University. She married Pete Meyer on November 23, 1962 and they moved to Chicago, IL where he started a career in hotel management. Over the course of the next few years, they welcomed two daughters, Danae and Andrea into the world. The family moved all around the country as Pete pursued his career. In each place, Elsie continued her education until she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and worked in that field for several years. Elsie and Pete divorced in 1983 and she moved to Arizona to pursue her Master’s degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She achieved this goal in 1988 and after a brief time in Washington, she settled in Palm Desert, CA where she worked as a wastewater engineer at the Coachella Valley Water District for 20 years. She retired in 2009 and relocated back to Bemidji in 2010 to be closer to family.
She loved playing bridge which she learned from her parents, and she was a fierce competitor. She also enjoyed reading, going to the movies, solving puzzles, doing jigsaw puzzles, playing games, craft projects, making lefse, watching the Vikings and professional tennis. Problem solving was a special skill that she embraced, and she found inventive ways to attack any obstacle in her path. She was a formidable force. If told she couldn’t do something, she would find a way to do it with fortitude, grace and persistence. She did quite a bit of traveling with her daughters and sister in her retirement years. Most of all, spending time with her family brought her the greatest joy.
She is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her daughters, Danae and Andrea Meyer, her sister Jeanne (Duane) Peterson of Bemidji, MN, her brother Mike Bakke of Stillwater, MN, her sister Sally Kolden of Pasadena, CA and several beloved nephews and nieces.
No services are scheduled at this time. Messages of condolence or memories may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com.