The funeral service for Esther Emilie Ida Christensen of Ellendale, MN will be 11 a.m. Thursday, October 13, 2011 at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale, MN. The Reverend Richard L. Sliper will officiate. Interment will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery, Ellendale. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.

Esther died Sunday, October 9, 2011 at the New Richland Care Center. She was 92 years old.

Esther was born May 30, 1919 in Berlin Township Steele County, Minnesota to Louis W. and Josephine (Fischer) Ribbe. She attended Country School District #46 and graduated from Ellendale High School. Esther married Harry Christensen on October 8, 1940.

She was a member of the First Lutheran Church where she belonged to the FLCW, a Bible study group, and a quilting group. Esther enjoyed doing some Day Care and volunteering at the Elementary School or with the Senior Citizen Semcac program. Always at the top of her to-do list was reading, sewing Barbie clothes for the granddaughters, playing cards or dominoes, listening to dance music, and taking a few bus trips. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

Esther is survived by her children: Kenneth (Dorothy) Christensen of Eagan, MN, Karen (Richard) Holmes of Ellendale, MN, Jeanne (Roger) Nelson of Fairmont, MN and Dale (Jeanie) Christensen of Oronoco, MN; nine grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren; a sister Ella Nelson of Albert Lea, MN; and a brother Orrin Ribbe of New Richland, MN.

Esther is preceded in death by her parents Louis and Josephine Ribbe; husband Harry Christensen; two sisters Leona Mogenson and Alice Yanke; brother Clarence Ribbe; and granddaughter Kimberly Sletten.