1914
Esther
2011
Esther Franklin
September 22, 1914 — November 25, 2011
Esther M. Franklin, 97, of Golden Valley and formerly of Willmar, died Friday, November 25, in Golden Valley.
A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 10, at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. www.petersonbrothers.com
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 11, at Bethlehem Covenant Church, 3141, 43rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN. Memorials in memory of Esther Franklin may be sent to the Bethlehem Covenant Church or the American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN.
Esther M. Franklin was born in Willmar, Minnesota on September 22, 1914 to Oscar and Anna Anderson. After graduating from Willmar High School in 1932, she earned a teaching certificate and then went on to attend North Park College. While living in Chicago, she worked at the Covenant Office as an assistant to Olga Lindborg and Nathaniel Franklin, directors of Sunday School and Youth Work.
On August 14, 1937, she married Robert N. Franklin, also of Willmar. After living in Minneapolis from 1939-1945, they moved to Willmar where Esther was an active member of the First Covenant Church, serving as Sunday School Superintendent, Director of the Church Choir, and appearing as a frequent soloist on the Covenant Hour as well for numerous religious and civic occasions.
When the family returned to Minneapolis in 1958, Esther assumed the position of Administrative Secretary to the Superintendent of the Northwest Covenant Conference, and was Minister of Music at Edina Covenant Church. In addition to taking an active role in Covenant Women, she was instrumental in establishing the annual Lucia celebration at Bethlehem Covenant Church, where she also directed the Junior Choir and was an active member of the Ruth Circle. After her retirement, Esther compiled an extensive archive of materials relating to her family history. In addition, she took up braiding rugs of all sizes, and crocheting footlets and dishcloths that she distributed widely to family and friends. Esther died on November 25, 2011, at the age of 97 at Covenant Village, where she had lived since September 2007.
She is survived by her son, Don (Joan), of Pittsburgh, PA, and two daughters, Judith Lifton of Cleveland, OH, and Susan Fulton (David) of Chapel Hill, NC, along with six grandchildren: Sara Franklin Rollfinke, Christopher Franklin, Valerie Swanson Brennecke, Meredith Swanson Warnock, Britta Fulton and David Fulton, and eight great grandchildren. Also surviving is her sister; Marian Bengtson of Willmar
Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Robert in 1985, one daughter, Sheryl in 2009, one sister, Alice Johnson of California in 1977 and one brother, John Anderson in 1944 during W.W. II.
A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 10, at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. www.petersonbrothers.com
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 11, at Bethlehem Covenant Church, 3141, 43rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN. Memorials in memory of Esther Franklin may be sent to the Bethlehem Covenant Church or the American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN.
Esther M. Franklin was born in Willmar, Minnesota on September 22, 1914 to Oscar and Anna Anderson. After graduating from Willmar High School in 1932, she earned a teaching certificate and then went on to attend North Park College. While living in Chicago, she worked at the Covenant Office as an assistant to Olga Lindborg and Nathaniel Franklin, directors of Sunday School and Youth Work.
On August 14, 1937, she married Robert N. Franklin, also of Willmar. After living in Minneapolis from 1939-1945, they moved to Willmar where Esther was an active member of the First Covenant Church, serving as Sunday School Superintendent, Director of the Church Choir, and appearing as a frequent soloist on the Covenant Hour as well for numerous religious and civic occasions.
When the family returned to Minneapolis in 1958, Esther assumed the position of Administrative Secretary to the Superintendent of the Northwest Covenant Conference, and was Minister of Music at Edina Covenant Church. In addition to taking an active role in Covenant Women, she was instrumental in establishing the annual Lucia celebration at Bethlehem Covenant Church, where she also directed the Junior Choir and was an active member of the Ruth Circle. After her retirement, Esther compiled an extensive archive of materials relating to her family history. In addition, she took up braiding rugs of all sizes, and crocheting footlets and dishcloths that she distributed widely to family and friends. Esther died on November 25, 2011, at the age of 97 at Covenant Village, where she had lived since September 2007.
She is survived by her son, Don (Joan), of Pittsburgh, PA, and two daughters, Judith Lifton of Cleveland, OH, and Susan Fulton (David) of Chapel Hill, NC, along with six grandchildren: Sara Franklin Rollfinke, Christopher Franklin, Valerie Swanson Brennecke, Meredith Swanson Warnock, Britta Fulton and David Fulton, and eight great grandchildren. Also surviving is her sister; Marian Bengtson of Willmar
Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Robert in 1985, one daughter, Sheryl in 2009, one sister, Alice Johnson of California in 1977 and one brother, John Anderson in 1944 during W.W. II.
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