The funeral for Esther Olmsted, Wishek, ND will be Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 11:00 am at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Wishek, ND. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Breckenridge, MN.


Esther Thurn, daughter of Fred and Rosina (Kemmet) Thurn was born March 17, 1918 on the family farm near Venturia, ND. She attended country school and helped on the family farm with four younger siblings, after losing her father at age 14. Later she moved to Fargo, ND. While working there she met her future husband, Bernie I. Olmsted and were married April 8, 1941. Shortly thereafter, her husband entered the military and Esther followed him to several Army Camps, where she found employment. After her husband's military discharge, they moved back to Fargo and she became a homemaker. Their only child, Connie was born in 1944. Esther enjoyed crafts and quilting. They had a summer cottage at Turtle Lake, near Detroit Lakes, MN. They were active members of Messiah Lutheran Church at Fargo, ND, where she taught Sunday school and participated in women's activities. Esther would tell people to look for them at the 11:00 o'clock church TV broadcast which they helped sponsor. Esther lost her daughter Connie at age 44 in 1989 and her husband Bernie in 1994. She lived in their Fargo home until 2005, when she entered the Wishek Living Center, Wishek, ND after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Esther died Monday, April 29, 2013 at the Wishek Living Center, Wishek, ND. She was 95 years old.

Esther is survived by a sister, Leah (Harold) Grasmick, Lodi, CA; a brother, Herbert (Mildred) Thurn, Bismarck, ND; two grandchildren, Jason (Carmen) Filbert, Wahpeton, ND and Kayla (Gene) Klingenberg, St. Cloud, MN; three great-grandchildren, Haley and Emily Klingenberg and Chelsy Filbert; three step-grandchildren, Miranda, Molly and Chase Nettum; sister-in-law, Delores Thurn, Wishek, ND and brother-in-law, Wilbert Bertsch, Huron, SD as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernie, her daughter, Connie, sister, Erna, brother, Alvin and two infant granddaughters, Julie and Wendy Filbert. Share memories and sign online guestbook at www.dahlstromfuneralservice.com. Dahlstrom Funeral Home of Wishek, ND entrusted with arrangements.