Effie Louise Brower was born to Wilbur and Rose Miller Brower on December 25, 1915, at York ND. At the age of 2 ½ years her family moved to the Bemidji-Guthrie area and settled on a small farm west of Guthrie. Except for 3 years spent in Egeland and Cando, ND, they remained on this farm until 1932. She received her schooling in the rural Stone School, 3 years at Guthrie High and graduated from Bemidji School in 1932. She was baptized and a member of Guthrie Church of the Brethren. After her graduation, the family, moved to Orr, ND. She married Nels Vigstol on January 1, 1935 and they farmed at Lawton, and Grand Forks, ND before moving to Plummer, MN in 1947. To this union was born 9 sons and 2 daughters. Nels died on February 18, 1991 and she moved into Plummer in 1992.

Effie was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Plummer and was an active member, serving as Sunday School superintendent, teacher and released time teacher. She also served as organist of her church for many years, and held various offices in the Ladies Aid. She taught beginning piano for 23 years and was a member and past president of Plummers Senior Citizen Club. She did a lot of volunteer sewing for Lutheran World Relief and wrote the Plummer news column for many years. In 1993, she married Burnel Byer, a former classmate at the country school and Bemidji and continued to live in Plummer, except for winters spent in Texas in later years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Nels, parents, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, grandchildren: Robbie, twins, Roxanne and Suzanne, Patty Vigstol, great-grandchild, Tyler Adolphson, a step-grandson, Brian Palmer and a daughter-in-law, Ronalie Vigstol.

She is survived by husband, Burnel, daughters, Anne (O.J.) Anderson, Edmond, OK and Maribeth (Scott) Miller, Delta Junction, AK; step-daughters, Elaine Palmer, Coon Rapids, IA and Beverly (Benn) Titleman, Aurora, CO; sons, Neil Vigstol, Omaha, NE, Lee (Jean) Vigstol, Minot, ND, John Eldon (Karen) Vigstol, Plummer, MN, Ray (Shirley) Vigstol, Thief River Falls, MN, Richard (Valerie) Vigstol, McGregor, MN, Russell (Ruth) Vigstol, Harlingen, TX, David (Sue) Vigstol, North Branch, MN, Daniel (Jan) Cedar, MN and Steven (Denise) Vigstol, St. Francis, MN; a sister, Crystal (Cliff) Pence, Ontario, CA; brother, Sterling, (Stella) Brower, Springfield, OR; sister in law, Selma Brower, Portland, OR; 45 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren; 8 Byer in-laws and their mates; nieces and nephews

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