Esther Lillestrand

Esther Lillestrand, 89 year old resident of Upsala, MN died Thursday, December 2, 2010 at the Lodge on Natchez in Elko, MN. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Monday, December 6, 2010 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Upsala, MN with Rev. Trish Jorgenson officiating. Burial will be in the Village Cemetery in Upsala, MN. Friends may call from 3:00-6:00 P.M. on Sunday at Gethsemane Lutheran Church and from 2:00-3:00 P.M. on Monday at the church in Upsala. Esther Matson was born on July 21, 1921 in Minneapolis, MN to the late Jacob and Johanna (Pesola) Matson. She attended North High School in North Minneapolis, MN. Esther attended St. Cloud State University for a few years after high school. Esther was united in marriage to Willard "Bud" Lillestrand on August 1, 1941 in Minneapolis, MN. The couple resided in Minneapolis, MN for a few short years until moving to Upsala, MN in 1944. The newly married couple owned and operated Lillestrand Grocery store in Upsala from 1944 until selling the store in 1985. The couple was very diligent in business working six and half days a week. The only time they would close the store was Sunday afternoons. At a young age, Esther was a faithful caretaker for her father and sister. Her love for her family continued throughout her life. She took excellent care of her husband, Bud and the boys Dan and Ward. She was very proud of her Finnish Heritage. One word she lived by was Sisu, meaning strong willed, courage and fortitude. Esther had a strong faith in the Lord and shared her faith with everyone she met. Her church, Gethsemane Lutheran and her Bible studies were a high priority for her. She relied on our promises from the Lord of eternal life in Heaven. She loved making hot cereal and feeding the stray cats in Upsala. Esther enjoyed music, reading one book a week, sewing, cross word puzzles and was an exceptional piano player. She extremely loved her family. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Ward (Sandra) Lillestrand of Bloomington, MN, Dan (Diane) Lillestrand of Burnsville, MN; grandchildren, Kimberly (Kurt) Spokas of Bloomington, MN, Amy (Robert) Martens of Bloomington, MN, Dana Hartman of Savage, MN, Dinah Lillestrand of Shakopee, MN, Dean Lillestrand of St. Paul, MN; great-grandsons, Isaac Martens and Nicholas Hartman. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Willard "Bud" Lillestrand on May, 2, 2006 and her sister, Helen Partridge. Arrangements are with the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service serving Upsala, MN.