Esther E. Sundberg, 77, died Monday, September 4, 2006 at Hillcrest Nursing Home, Red Lake Falls, MN

Funeral service will be Friday, September 8, 2006 " 10:30 AM at Grace Lutheran Church, Grygla, MN with Reverend Mary Gilthvedt and Reverend Bob Dahlen, officiating. Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery near Fourtown, MN.

Visitation will be Thursday, from 4:00 until 8:00 PM with a prayer service held at 7:00 PM at Johnson Funeral Service and on Friday one hour prior to the service in the church.

Esther Eldora Jelle was born April 18, 1929 at home on the family farm in rural Grygla, MN, the daughter of John and Thora (Moe) Jelle. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church. She attended country school in Hamre Township, Beltrami County, MN and high school in Newfolden, MN. At an early age, Esther started working for neighbors, and cooking and helping the elderly, mostly during the thrashing season. She spent some time in Minneapolis working at the Orpheum Theatre. She also worked in a restaurant in Michigan, ND for Joe Lamb.

On April 22, 1947, Esther was united in marriage to Clayton Sundberg in Goodridge, MN. They made their home on the Sundberg homestead in Spruce Grove Township, Beltrami County, MN near Grygla. The couple operated a dairy farm for a few years, then relocated with their family to the Iron Range in the 1950s. Esther worked there as a nurses aide in a hospital in Virginia, MN. In the early 1960s, the family returned to Grygla. Esther worked at Oakland Park Nursing Home and Land-O-Lakes in Thief River Falls, MN. She also managed the lunch counter at Woolworths in Thief River Falls for over 20 years. She and Clayton retired in 1984 when Esther was 55 years old and the two of them enjoyed their retirement together.

Esther was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church. She was a lifelong Democrat. She enjoyed political debates and watching CNN. She was an avid sales shopper. Esther spent endless hours nurturing her flowers and vegetable gardens. She had an open invitation for family and friends to stop and visit and always had fresh homemade goodies for them. She had multiple medical problems over the years, which she endured with her positive attitude and sense of humor. She had a huge zest for life and truly loved her family and friends. One of the things she enjoyed the most was spending quality time with her grandchildren.

Esther is survived by 5 children: Steven (Susan), Grygla, MN, Holly (Jerry) Rychlock, Grygla, MN, Wade (Elayne), Grygla, MN, Cheryl (Brian) Peterson, Goodridge, MN and Paul (Ruby), Grygla, MN; 18 grandchildren: Jon and David Sundberg, Julie Fenning, Jennifer Sundberg, Jeremy Rychlock, Rachel Rychlock and Katy Sundberg, Heidi Haugen, Lars and Rebecca Sundberg, Laura Berggren, Kyle Williams, Molly Peterson, Matthew, Lindsay, Jacob, Samuel and Eli Sundberg; 5 great grandchildren: Jacob Sundberg, Blake Rychlock, Noah Haugen, Edie Berggren and Berit Berggren; 2 sisters: Violet Olufson, Grygla, MN and Grace Askeland, Grygla, MN; numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by husband, Clayton in 1994; infant grandson, Adam Wade Sundberg, parents, brothers and sister: Henry, Elmer, Louis, Clarence, Jorgen and Walter Jelle and Evelyn Arneson.

Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

ORGANIST: Laura Berggren
FAMILY SERVICE SOLOIST: Cindy Arlt Seeds in Gods Hands
FUNERAL SERVICE SOLOIST: Jodi Schulz Precious Lord Take My Hand
ACCOMPANIST: Rich Berggren
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: A Mighty Fortress , Soon and Very Soon , and He Leadeth Me
CASKETBEARERS: Jeremy Rychlock, Kyle Williams, Matthew Sundberg, Lars Sundberg, Jacob Sundberg, Samuel Sundberg and Eli Sundberg
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: Katy Sundberg, Rachel Rychlock, Laura Berggren, Heidi Haugen, Lindsay Sundberg, Molly Peterson, Rebecca Sundberg