Esther Idela Estvold

Esther Idela (Knutson) Estvold, Lakota, ND, surrounded by her family, passed away on September 5, 2025. She was born on June 30, 1928, to Marion (Haukness) and Theadore Knutson in Estevan, Sask. Canada. She was baptized on July 29, 1928. She attended school in Canada for 3 years before her family moved to the Petersburg area in 1937. She was confirmed on November 14, 1943. She attended school in Petersburg, Dahlen, Whitman and Michigan and graduated on May 25, 1946, from Michigan High School.

After graduating, she worked as a nurse's aide and also as a waitress. In June 1951, she met Ken Estvold at a local dance. They were engaged at Christmas time and married in the Michigan Lutheran Church on May 11, 1952.

Esther and Ken farmed with Ken's father, Art and his brother Virgil. They bought their first farm in October 1953 located south of Mapes. In December 1965 they moved to the family farm located East of Lakota. They retired and moved into Lakota in June 1997.

Esther was a member of the Lakota Lutheran Church, Lakota WELCA, bible study group and the Lakota American Legion Auxiliary. She also taught Sunday school and was a Luther League advisor.

She was a fabulous cook and baker. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, canning and baking. She enjoyed going for walks in the country and loved visiting the farm and looking at the fields throughout the Summer. She also enjoyed going on picnics and traveling with her family and grandchildren. But most of all she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her four children, Terry (Denise Geisler) Devils Lake, ND, Jay (Margaret Ketterling) Lakota, ND, Renae (Wally Grossman) Lakeville, MN, Lori (James LeBrasseur) Alexandria, ND; eight grandchildren, Patrick (Jen Lang), Megan (Travis McCollum), Ann Estvold, Sydney Grossman, Emily Grossman (Beau Flury), Tara LeBrasseur (Phil Pham), Kate LeBrasseur, and Eric LeBrasseur; seven great grandchildren, Zane, Ryan, Evan, Jake, and Brooke Estvold, Zoe and Kal Pham. She also had ‘honorary family’ who called her grandma: Nathan, Angela, Emma and Jack Jutila and Carl, Abigail and Luke Volschenk.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; son, Brian; brothers, Lester and Manard; sisters, Bertha O'Hara and Eveyln Fisk; and her parents, Theadore and Marion Knutson.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at Lakota Lutheran Church, Lakota, ND with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Burial will be at the Lakota Cemetery, following the service.

Arrangements by Aaker Funeral Home, Lakota, ND.