Esther Margie Wiese, 91

Published 11:11 am Monday, January 19, 2015

Esther Margie Wiese, 91, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, died Saturday evening, Jan. 17, 2015, at Mayo Clinic Hospitals, St. Marys Campus, Rochester, Minnesota.

Wiese

She was born April 6, 1923, in Hayfield, Minnesota, the daughter of George and Ragnhild (Nesheim) Simonson. She attended country school district No. 91 near Evanger, Minnesota, and after completing her education lived in Hayfield, Rochester and Austin. While living in Rochester, Esther enjoyed working at the Woolworth store. On June 4, 1946, she was united in marriage to Arnold Wiese at the Evanger Lutheran Church, near Sargeant, Minnesota. The couple made their home on a farm for a couple of years before moving to Hayfield, Minnesota. Later they moved to Blooming Prairie and Austin before returning to Blooming Prairie in 1958. While living in Blooming Prairie, Esther, Arnold and Karen provided cleaning services for several businesses, including Farmers and Merchants State Bank, U.S. Post Office, City of Blooming Prairie Library and Police Department. She loved gardening, camping and fishing, doing hardanger embroidery and always looked forward to spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of First Lutheran Church and the Sons of Norway Lodge 1-519 of Austin. Esther was very proud of her Norwegian heritage and traveled to Norway twice with her family. She enjoyed her 90th birthday celebration with many family and friends.

Survivors include her husband, Arnold Wiese of Blooming Prairie; three daughters: Marilyn Gordon of Ellendale, Sharon (Samuel) Peterson of rural Ellendale, and Karen Wiese of Blooming Prairie; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters: Gloria Jacobson of Austin, Jacob “Jake” (LaVonne) Simonson of Owatonna, Milward (Donna) Simonson of Hayfield, Alice Williams of Austin, and Ruby Klingfus of Cass Lake; a sister-in-law, Helen Campbell of Dexter; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister in infancy; two sons-in-law: Sever Olson, and Gene Gordon; three brothers-in-law: Stanley Jacobson, Donald Williams, LaVern Klingfus; and a sister-in-law, Katherine “Kay” Funk.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, with Pastor Heidi Heimgartner officiating. Interment will follow the service in the Blooming Prairie Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Worlein – Blooming Prairie Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.