Esther Gensmer

Esther Gensmer, of Benson and formerly of rural Montevideo died on Sunday, February 4, 2007 at the Meadow Lane Health Care Center in Benson, MN at the age of 87.  Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, February 12, 2007 at 1:30 PM at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Benson with Rev. Dennis McManus officiating.  Interment will be in the Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo.  Visitation will be for one hour prior to services at the church.

Esther Gensmer was born on December 11, 1919 in Minneapolis, MN.  She grew up with her parents,  Ernest and Suzie (Winkelman) Remer, in the Twin Cities and in Lemmon, SD.  On March 5, 1939 she was united in marriage to Friebert Gensmer in Grace Township of Chippewa County, MN.  They farmed in Grace Township for over 50 years.  She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Grace Township, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Benson and Trinity Lutheran Church of Havelock.  She had been active in the church women’s groups and the Chippewa Co Homemakers.  She loved flowers, butterflies and her gardens.

She is survived by two children: Norman Gensmer and his wife Judy of Zimmerman, MN and Gloria Kotschevar of Naples, FL; three granddaughters: Stephanie Gensmer of Silver Lake, MN, Kamara (Scott) Johnson and Korianne (Al) Kotschevar Call, both of Eden Prairie, MN; five great-grandchildren: Nicole and Benjamin Johnson and Hunter, Taylor and Kaci Kotschevar Call; a sister, Hazel Taylor of Florida; nieces and nephews: Darlene Tolin of Benson, MN, Sheryl (Chuck) O’Malley of Benson, MN, Neil (Jody) Tolin of Buffalo, MN, and Bryan (Cathy) Tolin of Albertville, MN; and family friend, Dave Wallevand of Benson, MN.

Preceding him in death were her parents; her husband, Friebert in 2005; sister-in-law and brother-in-law: Gertrude and Delbert Tolin; and nephew, Harlan Tolin.