Esther (Sietsema) Gilsrud

Esther Gilsrud, of Willmar, died Friday December 20, 2019 at Copperleaf Senior Living in Willmar at the age of 93.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 10:30 AM at Big Bend Lutheran Church.  Rev. Kristine Isder will officiate and interment will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the church for one hour before the service.  Arrangements are with Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Anna Esther Sietsema was born on January 1, 1926 in Holland Township in Kandiyohi County to Henry and Grace (Fischer) Sietsema. She was baptized and grew up in the Methodist Church in Raymond.

Esther attended country school and graduated from Raymond High School in 1944, then attended teacher’s training in Montevideo. She then returned to Kandiyohi County to teach for two years followed by a school in Chippewa County. While living in Chippewa County, she met her future husband at a Luther League meeting at Big Bend Church. She married Clifford Gilsrud June 24, 1949. They lived on his home place together for almost 50 years. Clifford passed away April 15, 1999.

While living on the farm she was an active member of Big Bend Church. She taught Sunday School and Bible School for many years. She was also a very active in the Ladies Aid at the church.  Esther was also a wonderful cook, baker, and seamstress. She loved to crochet and read.

Esther moved to Raymond and lived there until having a stroke in May of 2013. She enjoyed her years in Raymond very much as she was able to see her great-grandchildren often. She was also able to attend the church she grew up in, First United Methodist Church of Raymond. She enjoyed her years attending services there.  Every Sunday, her son-in-law Steve would ask her if she had a sandwich in her purse- in case she got stuck in the elevator! She did worry about that elevator every Sunday!

She is survived by her daughter, Char Bestge, of Raymond; grandson, Josh and his wife Jamie Bestge of Raymond; her much loved great-grandchildren: Matthew, Ellie, Annalynn, Claire and Lucas all of Raymond; brothers: Russell Sietsema of Raymond, Kenneth Sietsema of Willmar; sisters: Lyla (LeRoy) Kapsner of Princeton, MN and Marlene (Marvin) Noe of Sauk Centre.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clifford in 1999; son-in-law, Steve Bestge in 2013; sisters: Alice Sietsema, Beatrice Olson; brother, Harvey Sietsema; nephew, Duane Sietsema; and niece, Jill Kapsner; sisters-in-law: Gertrude Sietsema, Geraldine Sietsema, Arlene Sietsema; and brother-in-law, Charlie Olson.