Esther Kirkeby, age 93, of Twin Valley, MN, died on Saturday, August 29, 2015, at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND.

Esther L. Johnson was born January 25, 1922, the daughter of George and Josehpine (Pederson) Johnson on a farm west of Twin Valley where she grew up and attended country school in the area. On February 6, 1944, Esther was united in marriage to Milton Kirkeby at the Wild Rice Parsonage. The couple made their home on a farm southeast of Twin Valley in Flom Township. To this union, three children were born: Myrna, David, and Doyle. In 1958, Milton and Esther purchased this farm and continued living and farming there until moving into the Normandy Apartments in 2001. Milton passed away February 13, 2005. In 2011, Esther made her home at the Twin Valley Living Center where she resided until the time of her death.

In her younger years, Esther was an active member of Aspelund Lutheran Church participating in the ladies groups. Over the years, Esther had several favorite pastimes. She was an outstanding homemaker and was known for her excellent angel food cakes, delicious doughnuts, homemade buns and lefse. She was very meticulous in the way her baking was presented, right down to having her bars and cakes cut perfectly straight! Esther will be remembered by her grandchildren for the many board games and card games she taught them as well as the countless batches of playdough she made. Some hobbies included embroidery, playing cards and for several years she looked forward to the weekly bingo night in Ulen. Medora was the highlight of her and Milton's travels, where friends and family would join them often. Esther was an avid follower of the Minnesota Twins and her favorite television program was Wheel of Fortune. She loved visiting with her friends and family, but she truly treasured the time she spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Esther is survived by her three children: Myrna (Jim) Skaurud of Hawley, MN, David (Karen) Kirkeby of Thief River Falls, MN, and Doyle (Marilyn) Kirkeby of Chanhassen, MN; eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a sister, Vivian Hanson of Ada, MN. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, two sisters and one great-grandson.

Funeral Services were held Wednesday, September 9, 2015, at 10:30 AM at Aspelund Lutheran Church, Flom, MN. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Officiating was Pastor Al Brooks with Carol Johnson serving as organist and Linda Blomseth as vocalist. Pallbearers were Tami Lundgren, Kari Yonke, Jennifer Naatz, Cindy Ewy, Denise Seck, Renee Kirkeby, Michael Kirkeby and Thomas Kirkeby. Honorary pallbearers were  all of Esther's great-grandchildren.

Interment was in Aspelund Lutheran Cemetery.