Esther Johnson

Esther L. Johnson, age 87, of Willmar, died Saturday morning, October 25, at Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29, at the Bethel Lutheran Church Chapel. Interment will be at Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church.
Esther Louise Johnson was born on June 16, 1927, in Renville, Minnesota, the daughter of Louis and Hattie (Grussing) Luitjens. She grew up in the Renville community, graduated from Renville High School in 1945 and from Glenwood Hills School of Nursing in Minneapolis in 1946. On September 2, 1950, Esther was united in marriage to Lloyd "Bud" Johnson and they made their home in Willmar. Esther spent her nursing career working at the Rice Memorial Hospital and the Willmar Regional Treatment Center and also did home care for Spectrum. Esther was a foster grandparent for Head Start at Jefferson School for many years. She was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, the Eagles Auxiliary and was active in the Minnesota Nursing Association.
Esther was always a hard worker. She spent her entire life caring for others. She was a wonderful and loving grandmother. Esther enjoyed crocheting, embroidery, baking, canning and giving those gifts to bring joy to others.
She is survived by her three daughters, Kathy (and Mike) Slavick of Ft. Collins, CO., Marcia (and Galen) Sylvester of Aberdeen, SD., and Penny Johnson of Willmar; eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Also surviving is one sister, Leona Roelofs of Blomkest, besides other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her twin brother, Lester at birth; and brothers, Elmer and Harvey Luitjens.

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