Esther L. Freeberg

Esther L. Freeberg, age 93, of Wyoming, Minn. died Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003 at Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming.
Esther was born March 19, 1910 in Harris, the third of eleven children, to Ludwig and Anna (Lund) Peterson. She attended Willow Grove School, a one-room schoolhouse near Harris, and was united in marriage to Ed Freeberg on December 12, 1931. They raised four children together and had been married for almost 71 years when Ed passed away in August 2002.
Much of their married life was spent in the home they purchased outside Harris, where Esther first began displaying her zeal for creating gardens and lawn space out of the fields surrounding their house. Esther helped Ed on the farm and also worked at various other jobs, including doing housework for families (who quickly became friends) in North Oaks.
In 1966, Esther and Ed moved to Wyoming, Minn. where they built another home surrounded by gardens and trees.
Like Ed, Esther never retired and while she was in her own home, continued to enjoy being active with baking, crocheting and her flowers. She greatly loved holidays, celebrations and having company ñ and taught us all what it means to be a good hostess. The coffee pot was always on and everyone was welcomed with open arms, a smile and cookies! No one else in the world could ever prepare and serve a meal as fast as Esther ñ and no one could ever complain about going away hungry when they left her table. Some of her greatest sorrows were having an ìempty houseî after all her guests had gone home again ñ and then having to give up her house and all it meant to her when she moved to Birchwood Health Care Center in July 2002.
Cherished mother and adored grandmother, she took great pride and joy in each and every one of her family members. She taught us all through a life lived with grace and fortitude. We will miss her love, her nurturing spirit and constant support, her strength and courage and wisdom.
Funeral services for Esther were held Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003 at First Lutheran Church of Harris with Reverend Michael Likens officiating. Soloists were Cameron Schroeder and Anita Ryberg; the organist was Carolyn Holmstrom. The interment took place in Oak Grove Cemetery near Harris with grandsons Michael Thompson, Steve Freeberg, Jim Freeberg, Joseph Freeberg, Mark Dykes, Brian Freeberg and Greg Dykes acting as casket bearers. (Honorary pallbearers were nephews Lawrence Peterson, Clarence Peterson, Willard ìBudî Sybrant, Donald Sybrant, Lawrence Freeborg, William ìBillî Freeborg, and Virgil Carlson.)
Esther is survived by son Merle and his wife Gertrude of Chisholm; son Duane and wife Charlotte of Moundsview; and daughter Judy Dykes of Minneapolis. Also surviving are 24 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; sisters and brother-in-law Virginia Gessner, Eunice Trulson, Dorothy Holmes and Myrtle and Don Ward; along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by husband, Ed; parents, Ludwig and Anna Peterson; daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Lyle Thompson; son-in-law, Doug Dykes; great grandson, Ricky Oveson; several brothers and sisters and brothers- and sisters-in-law.
Funeral arrangements were made by Olson Funeral Chapel of Rush City.

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