Esther Gausen, 87, died on Friday, December 21, 2007 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 P.M. Sunday, December 23, 2007 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, Minnesota with Pastor Mark Helgeland officiating.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 P.M. Saturday, December 22, 2007 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls and again one hour prior to the service at the chapel.

Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN.

Esther Minnie Gausen was born to Harry and Mable Marie (Klocman) Weber on December 19, 1920 in a log cabin on her grandparents farm in Germantown, Pennington County, Minnesota. She was her fathers middle daughter. Older sisters were born before her including Hannah Rose (Ted) Hornseth and Violet Hattie (Don) Kolbo and two half sisters Lavern Weber and Lorraine Weber. She worked at Jungs and attended Lincoln High School where she met Andreas Andy Christian Gausen. They were married on August 13, 1938. To this union four children were born, Glenda Gail, Larry Dale, Rhonda Dee, and Danny Lee.

During World War II, Esther worked as a welders helper in the Kaiser Shipyards in Portland, Oregon.

Esther was an excellent cook and baked cinnamon rolls, lefsa, krumkaka and cookies for her children and grandchildren. She loved to entertain, garden, watch the Twins and Vikings and any other sporting event that her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren participated in. She thoroughly enjoyed her family, country western music, dancing, and keeping in touch with old friends and relatives.

Esther is survived by her children, Glenda Gausen of Apple Valley, MN, Larry (Karen) Gausen of Bemidji, MN, Rhonda (JR) Lindsey of Thief River Falls, MN and Danny (LoyDelle) Gausen of Warroad, MN; grandchildren, Andrea (Oliver) Sparkman of Georgetown, TX, Robert (Isabel) Zimmerman of Windsor, CO, Laurie (Dick) Claypool of Bemidji, MN, Kyle (Rita) Gausen and Keith and Cory Gausen of Billings, MT, Marty Gausen of Grand Forks, ND, Carrie Jo Foy of Altoona, WI, Jessica Lindsey of Thief River Falls, MN, Brent (Daisey) Comstock of Thief River Falls, MNKristi (Nat) Stephens of Thief River Falls, MN, Joshua Fain of Thief River Falls, MN, Eric (Trish) Gausen and Donnie Andreas Gausen of Minneapolis, MN, Jamie Dale Gausen of Fargo, ND, randy Hesse of Fargo, ND, David (Mary) Corneliusen of Wadena, MN; great grandchildren, Michael Oliver and Jordan Lynn Sparkman, Abigail, Natalie, Margaret Jane Meg , and Rachel Zimmerman of Westminster, CO, Shane, Amy, and Meg of Bemidji, MN, Robbie Christian Foy of Altoona , WI, Zachery, Ami Jo and Crysi Lindsey, Ashleigh Comstock, Katelyn Stephens, Max Andrea and Unity Kay Gausen, Danielle Gausen of Warroad, MN, Jasmine and Justin Hesse of Fargo, ND; nieces and nephews, Beverly, Patricia, Barbara and Elton (Linda) Hornseth, Mark (Kathy) Jenkins, Jerry (Dana) Jenkins, Char, Roberta and Gary Gausen, Wanda Weller, Arnold Archer, Dawn, Dick and jimmy Standard and Tina Drain; cousins, Ruth Schmitz and her daughters Renei and Lynette, Marvin Groven, Tillie Gebhardt, and Constance Phillipps.

She is preceded in death by her husband Andy in 1980.

ORGANIST: Joyce Halbasch
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: How Great Thou Art Nearer, My God To Thee
CASKETBEARERS: Eric Gausen, Donnie Gausen, Jamie Gausen, Brent Comstock, Joshua Fain, and Nathan Stephens