Bertha Ekstrand Jamesgaard

Bertha Ekstrand Jamesgaard passed away very unexpectedly on July 23, 2003 at her home in Andover. She will be remembered as a very hard working and caring mother. She will be missed by her many family and friends.
Reverend Laurie OíShea officiated at funeral services on Monday July, 28, 2003 at the First Lutheran Church in Rush City with the music provided by soloist Fred Meissner and organist Dianne Kirchberg. Casket Bearers were her triplet sons Lonnie, Larry and Lowell Ekstrand and her grandsons David and Robert Galbraith and Scott Sundgaard with the interment at the Rush Lake Baptist Cemetery at Rush Point. Arrangements were by the Funeral & Cremation Service of Rush City, Minnesota; Olson Chapel.
Bertha was born Feb.12, 1921 in Stanchfield, Minn. to Herman and Jennie Ostrom. She was their second child. She attended county school in Stanchfield through the eighth grade and then went to Minneapolis where she became a housekeeper/nanny. It was during that time she met and married Edgar Ekstrand on Sept. 3, 1938. They made their home on a farm about five miles north of Rush City. To this union 6 children were born.
In 1957 Edgar became ill with Parkinsonís disease. It then became necessary for Bertha to go to work. She first worked at Olsonís Produce in Pine City and then the Rush City Hospital, where she worked for 25 years.
The house on the farm burned down in 1969 and so they sold the farm and moved into Rush City. On Feb. 24, 1974 Edgar died.
After Edgarsí death Bertha met Harold Walberg who would be her friend and companion until his passing in 1977.
A few years after that she was introduced to Al Jamesgaard who was a neighbor of Edgarís sister living on Rush Lake. They were married May 11, 1985. Al died August 6, 1991.
On October 22, 1999 Bertha moved to Andover to live at ìThe Farmsteadî a Presbyterian Homes facility. She had many friends there and enjoyed the choir, playing bingo, and cards.
Bertha is survived by her daughters; Diane (Don) Sundgaard of Coon Rapids, Janice Galbraith of Brainerd, sons; Dennis (Ramona) Ekstrand of Fence, Wisc., Lonnie Ekstrand of Seattle, Larry Ekstrand of Fridley, Lowell (Lorrie) Ekstrand of Blaine, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; Herman and Jennie (Krogstad) Ostrom, husbands; Edgar Ekstrand, Al Jamesgaard, Brother Alfred Ostrom, and special friend Harold Walberg.

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