1919
Clara
2008
Clara Esterby
November 6, 1919 — March 4, 2008
Clara Esterby, age 88 of Cannon Falls, died on Tuesday evening, March 4, 2008 at the Cannon Falls Medical Center, following a short illness.
Clara was born the fifth of six girls on November 6, 1919 on a farm outside of Columbus, North Dakota, the daughter of Peter C. and Anna (Thorkildson) Sorum. At an early age, she and her sisters became orphans. They were raised by relatives, and Clara ended up living with her uncle and aunt, John and Laura Hanson, along with her sister, Thordis. The family moved to Silverton, Oregon where Clara graduated from high school in 1938.
Clara moved to Minnesota and married Edwin A. Esterby on December 5, 1940 in Sisseton, SD. They farmed in several communities, and also raised two foster sons. Bill Honecker came at age 12 in 1956, and Larry Brekke came at age 5 in 1965. For a short time, they also had a foster daughter, Mary Lou (Brekke) Stechmann of Red Wing.
Clara had worked in the junior high office at the Randolph School during the 1970's.
Clara and Ed built a house on Lake Byllesby where Clara resided until her move to the Angels Care Center in November, 2001.
Clara had many and varied interests. She loved to cross country, down hill and water ski, swim, do crossword puzzles, tennis, roller and ice skate, snowmobile, square and line dance, crafts such as hardanger and china painting, as well as play her Hammond organ. Clara also had a special fondness for cats.
Her husband, Ed died on March 22, 1978. She was also preceded in death by her parents; foster son, Bill Honecker on March 18, 1999; four sisters, Inger Sorum, Agnes Tracy, Margaret Taxdahl and Thordis Satrum; and her five brothers-in-law.
She is survived by her foster son, Larry (Beth) Brekke of Goodhue; sister, Josie Swenson of Cannon Falls; daughter-in-law, Diane Honecker of Montezuma, IA; three grandchildren, Mark (Beth) Honecker of Rochester, Avin (Brad) Sherman of Dodge Center, and Aaron (Melissa) Honecker of Champagne, IL; three great-grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 8 at 2:00 p.m. at Urland Lutheran Church, with Pastor Arthur Sharot officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Friday from 4-7 p.m. at Lundberg Funeral Home in Cannon Falls. There will also be visitation at the church on Saturday from 1-2 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Larry Brekke, Mark Honecker, Jim Tracy, Gary Taxdahl, Rick Swenson and Burt Lundell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to donor's choice, Shepherd Center, or the chapel fund at Angels Care Center.
Clara was born the fifth of six girls on November 6, 1919 on a farm outside of Columbus, North Dakota, the daughter of Peter C. and Anna (Thorkildson) Sorum. At an early age, she and her sisters became orphans. They were raised by relatives, and Clara ended up living with her uncle and aunt, John and Laura Hanson, along with her sister, Thordis. The family moved to Silverton, Oregon where Clara graduated from high school in 1938.
Clara moved to Minnesota and married Edwin A. Esterby on December 5, 1940 in Sisseton, SD. They farmed in several communities, and also raised two foster sons. Bill Honecker came at age 12 in 1956, and Larry Brekke came at age 5 in 1965. For a short time, they also had a foster daughter, Mary Lou (Brekke) Stechmann of Red Wing.
Clara had worked in the junior high office at the Randolph School during the 1970's.
Clara and Ed built a house on Lake Byllesby where Clara resided until her move to the Angels Care Center in November, 2001.
Clara had many and varied interests. She loved to cross country, down hill and water ski, swim, do crossword puzzles, tennis, roller and ice skate, snowmobile, square and line dance, crafts such as hardanger and china painting, as well as play her Hammond organ. Clara also had a special fondness for cats.
Her husband, Ed died on March 22, 1978. She was also preceded in death by her parents; foster son, Bill Honecker on March 18, 1999; four sisters, Inger Sorum, Agnes Tracy, Margaret Taxdahl and Thordis Satrum; and her five brothers-in-law.
She is survived by her foster son, Larry (Beth) Brekke of Goodhue; sister, Josie Swenson of Cannon Falls; daughter-in-law, Diane Honecker of Montezuma, IA; three grandchildren, Mark (Beth) Honecker of Rochester, Avin (Brad) Sherman of Dodge Center, and Aaron (Melissa) Honecker of Champagne, IL; three great-grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 8 at 2:00 p.m. at Urland Lutheran Church, with Pastor Arthur Sharot officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Friday from 4-7 p.m. at Lundberg Funeral Home in Cannon Falls. There will also be visitation at the church on Saturday from 1-2 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Larry Brekke, Mark Honecker, Jim Tracy, Gary Taxdahl, Rick Swenson and Burt Lundell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to donor's choice, Shepherd Center, or the chapel fund at Angels Care Center.
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