Felicia Finsterwalder Forder

Teacher, Librarian & Master Horticulturalist Felicia (Finsterwalder) Forder, known for her career starting as a Minneapolis public school teacher & librarian to the book business as national buyer with both retailer B. Dalton & later with educational publisher McGaw-Hill, died on November 10th at the Cuyana Regional Medical Center with her beloved husband William & son Aaron by her side. She was 76.

Felicia was born January 11th, 1944 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin the city where she grew up & graduated high school. Upon graduation she went onto college at St. Catherines located in St. Paul, MN and graduated with her teaching degree in both history and library studies in 1966 & soon moved to Baltimore Maryland to finish her studies. Upon completion, Felicia came back to Minnesota to teach for Minneapolis Public Schools. After 12 years with the Public School System, Felicia aspired to enter the book business starting with a position as the manger of B. Dalton Booksellers in Rosedale Center in Roseville, MN.  When B. Dalton was sold to Barnes & Noble, Felicia rose to became national magazine buyer and later caught the attention of educational publisher McGraw-Hill and finished her corporate career as Midwest Director and soon was supplying educational books to all the major Colleges & Universities throughout the midwest.  

Though she found success in the educational & publishing world, upon “retirement” she went back to her 1st love of horticulture & gardening & became a Master Horticulturalist where she used these credentials for flower show judging, “how to” educational seminars throughout Minnesota including the Minnesota State Fair. She also served as Aitkin County Master Gardener for 10 years earning the University of Minnesota gold star award for her service.