Astrid Estby-Howson

Astrid Olive Estby-Howson, 94, of Willmar, died Monday, March 15, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.
Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Saturday, March 20, at Sunburg Free Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 19, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Astrid was born February 6, 1916, in Hen, Norway, to Ole and Anna (Anderson) Flaskerud. At the age of four, her family immigrated to the United States and settled in the Hamburg, North Dakota area. She attended school in the Wells County, North Dakota and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Eden Lutheran Church in Sheyenne, North Dakota on October 27, 1929. In 1932, she married Clifford Estby in Brooten. They lived and farmed in rural Murdock. In the 1950s, Clifford took a job in the taconite mines and they moved to Silver Bay. On December 5, 1967, Astrid became a naturalized citizen of the United States in Duluth. Clifford died in 1968. Following his death, Astrid moved to California and later Washington State. She received her GED and returned to schools, graduated with a degree in early childhood education from Bellevue Community College in 1972. She taught Head Start in Renton, Washington, and loved working with children. In December 1979, she married Clifford Howson and they lived in Renton. Following Clifford's death in 1981, Astrid moved back to Silver Bay and later to Willmar. She lived at Island View Assisted Living in Willmar since 2007.

Astrid was a very spiritual person and was a member of Sunburg Free Lutheran Church, where she was active with the Ladies Aid and Bible Study. She enjoyed bowling, crocheting, and embroidery. She was an excellent cook and made wonderful lefse and donuts. She was active with 4H and Mothers Club while her children were in school. She also enjoyed attended car races in Sunburg and raced in the Powder Puff Races in her younger years.

She is survived by a daughter-in-law, Patricia Estby of Willmar, MN; a brother, Oliver (and Avis) Flaskerud of Walla Walla, WA; three grandchildren, Danny (and Joy) Estby of Parker, CO, David ( and Marilyn) Estby of Two Harbors, MN, and Angela
(and Ed) Ahlbrecht of Litchfield, MN; seven great-grandchildren; thirteen great-great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands, Clifford Estby in 1968 and Clifford Howson in 1981; two sons, John Estby in 1974 and Oniel Estby in 2008; a granddaughter, Kristi Estby in 1977; two brothers and twelve sisters.