Perhaps an old friend has the best descriptive words for longtime and well-known Crosslake resident Elizabeth "Libby" Andolshek, who passed away at age 88 last Thursday, Feb. 12.
Betty Ryan called her a "faithful walker," referring to her dedication to a regimen of walking with friends almost every day at the Crosslake Community Center. Libby could also often be seen walking the third of a mile, or so, from her home along County Road 3 into town to join "the ladies" for a regular coffee klatch at a local cafe.
But "faithful walker" might also refer to her lifetime dedication to her membership at the Crosslake Lutheran Church, where she was an organist and member of the choir for many decades.
Libby came to Crosslake with her husband, John, in the early 1950s. Together they first opened a kind of general store, the Narrows Trading Post, in the small town of Outing. They later set up the Crosslake Store in 1956.
The Crosslake Store was a classic mom-and-pop operation selling groceries and a lot of other stuff, until her husband's untimely death in 1966. Libby was left with her two sons, Terry and Jay. Jay Andolshek is the current mayor of Crosslake.
Libby herself was also active in city government. She was elected to and served on the Crosslake City Council for about six years in the 1980s. She was also instrumental in obtaining REA funding to enhance telephone and communications services for Crosslake.
Ryan said Libby was one of those classic small town people who was active in many aspects of the community, a person whom just about everyone knew, liked and admired.
She was a faithful walker, indeed, and in more ways than one. She was a faithful friend to many in Crosslake.
