Esther Fuller, 93, died surrounded by her family on Friday, May 2, 2008 at MeritCare Northwest Hospital in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at Silver Creek Lutheran Church, rural Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Ale Tulu officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery.

Visitation will be held 5-8 PM, on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Wednesday.

Esther Charlotte Wolfgram was born on May 18, 1914 to Theophil and Charlotte (Herman) in Niagara, ND. She was baptized in June of 1914 in St. Andreas Church and confirmed. She spoke German until she was age 6, then she learned English while going to school. She attended a country school near Niagara, ND. She suffered pleurisy at age 14 and was very ill for a year. During the depression, her family moved to Thief River Falls, MN where they bought a farm. She did housekeeping for people in the area. She met her future husband at Luther League.

Esther was united in marriage to Donald B. Fuller on May 17, 1938 at the parsonage for St. Johns Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN. They made their first marriage home between Thief River Falls and St. Hilaire. They then moved to a farm in Excel Township in Marshall County that his dad had homesteaded. Esther was a homemaker who raised six children. Donald passed away in 1969. Esther moved into Thief River Falls where she has resided since. She resided on Tindolph Ave for the most of her time. She lived at Riverside Terrace from 1995 to 2005, then lived in Valley Home for the past two and a half years.

Esther worked at the hospital in Thief River Falls in laundry and housekeeping for about 10 years. Esther enjoyed quilting and hand stiched a quilt each of her children and grandchildren. She did a lot of needle work and embroidered many dish towels and gifts. Every Christmas she made a new craft for each of the grandchildren. Crossword puzzles, word search, and word scramble were a part of her routine. She liked to keep her mind sharp. While she lived on the farm she raised a large garden and canned and froze food for the family.

Esther is survived by six children: Herb (Judy) Fuller, International Falls, MN, Ray (Mary) Fuller, Thief River Falls, MN, Shirley (Larry) Inman, Middle River, MN, Donna (Richard) Parnow, Goodridge, MN, Gail (Larry) Holmes-Murphy, Middle River, MN, James, Thief River Falls, MN, 14 grandchildren, Wayne (Tracey) Fuller, Loman, MN, Donald (Renee) Fuller, Little Fork, MN, Thomas (Melissa) Fuller, International Falls, MN, Mark Fuller, Thief River Falls, MN, Brent Fuller, Thief River Falls, MN, Tami Inman, Thief River Falls, MN, Ron (Paula) Inman, Blaine, MN, Wendy (Aaron) Baldwin, Middle River, MN, Kim (Kyle) Nelson, Oklee, MN, Tim (Penny) Parnow, Baudette, MN, Jerry (Sandy) Parnow, Goodridge, MN, Adam Holmes, Minneapolis, MN, Alison Holmes, San Francisco, CA, Kelsey Holmes, Duluth, MN, and 15 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Donald in 1969, parents, 1 infant sister Alice, 1 brother Rubert Wolfgram, 1 son-in-law Steve Holmes, and one infant grandson.

Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

ORGANIST: Ida Nordvall
SOLOIST: Lois Anderson and Lois Peterson
SELECTIONS: they pick
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Rock of Ages, Amazing Grace
PALLBEARERS: Grandsons
HONORARY PALLBEARERS: Granddaughters