Esther I.Gunderson, age 97, passed away on Thursday, July 12, 2018 at her home in Becker.
Esther Inga Olson was born on August 11, 1920, on a farm in Palmer Township, Sherburne County, Clear Lake, Minnesota. She was the forth of five daughters born to Oscar Severn and Margaret Kajsa (Sjolander) Olson.
Esther attended the Oak Knoll District 51 School and graduated from the 8th grade in 1932. She was an excellent student. After school she stayed at home and helped her dad ( a widower of nearly nine years), with farm chores and housework.
Esther was united in marriage to Norris Lee Forest Gunderson on May 17, 1941 (Norwegian Independence Day) Syttenade Maj at Orrock Parsonage, Orrock Township, Sherburne County. Together they had five daughters: Judy, Janet, Audrey, Linda and Susan. Norris and Esther purchased Norris’ parent’s farm, milked cows, and raised chickens and cows.
After her family was grown, Esther worked at Big Lake for a few years. Esther was active at her church with Ladies Aid, quilting, Bible Study and Altar Guild. She was always there to help all her family, friends, and neighbors in any way she was able to. Esther was a very loving, caring, passionate, sensitive Christian woman who always put others before herself. She was also a wonderful cook, seamstress, gardener and farm woman.
Survivors include her daughters Judy Borst of Becker, Janet (Donald) Aleckson of Big Lake, Audrey (George) Stang of Becker, Linda (James) Ouellette of Becker and Susan (Roger) Lambert of Big Lake; 16 grandchildren, Dale, Kevin, Steven, Joel, Danny, Karen, Nancy, Kristy, Sharon, Joanne, Scott, Debbie, Carol, Becky, Michael, and Betsy; 33 great grandchildren Amorette, Jacob, Joseph, Erin, Marcus, Lance, Margo, Elizabeth, Mariah, Toriel, Josiah, Ashley, Cassie, Broderick, Logan, Levi, Lauren, Tom, Tammy, Tara, Nikki, Mikey, Joey, Megan, Taylor, Brooke, Avery, Dillon, Sawyer, Mikayla, Mackenzie, Paige, Paisley, and one on the way; 14 great- great grandchildren, Daxton, Annika, Asher, Alice, Chloe, Joram, Nova, Haedryn, Braelyn, Leah, Justen, Quinn, Wyatt, Elliot and one on the way. Many others referred to Esther as grandma. She treated everyone as family. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters, Anna Johnson, Alice Johnson, Ruth Johnson, and Lillian Pickartz; son-in-law Bruce Borst, grandchildren Kelly Aleckson and Todd Roger Lambert; great grandchildren Amber Borst and Travis Wipper.
Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. Wed., July 18, at South Santiago Lutheran Church, 14675 37th St SE, in Clear Lake. Visitations will be Tues., July 17 from 4-8 p.m. at the church with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. and one hour prior to services on Wednesday. Interment will be at South Santiago Lutheran Cemetery
Arrangements are in the care of Peterson-Grimsmo Funeral Chapel in Monticello. Online condolences may be shared at www.peterson-grimsmochapel.com 763-295-2918.
