Luella Estenson, 91, of Fergus Falls, died Friday, June 3, 2016, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.
Luella Luverne was born on August 27, 1924, in Erhard's Grove Township, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, of Norwegian and German heritage, the daughter of William Ferdinand and Tina (Mostue) Weiss. Baptized at St. John's Church in Elizabeth on September 28, 1924, she was confirmed at Bagstevold Lutheran Church of rural Erhard on May 15, 1938 and attended School District #17 through the eighth grade and Pelican Rapids High school. She worked as a waitress at the Nelson Café in Fergus Falls and also on the family farm.
On April 14, 1944, she married Donald L. Estenson in Paris, Tennessee at the church parsonage. Luella resided on the family farm at rural Pelican Rapids while Don was in the U.S. Army for two years. In 1946 the couple moved to Fergus Falls. The couple owned and operated a number of businesses the first being De-Lite Lunch Café in Detroit Lakes, MN. They also ran the Riverside Resort on Otter Tail Lake, for one summer. The couple purchased the Fergus Hotel in 1952 and ran it for 16 years while Luella also managed the M & H Diner for 6 years. The couple also owned and operated the Nu-Way Café and Bus Depot for 7 years. In 1968 they purchased the Fergus Motel which they owned and operated for 26 years and during that time for several years they owned and rented 3 cabins at Long Lake. In 1976 Luella began working as a cook in the dietary department of the Fergus Falls State Hospital retiring in 1990 and remaining intermittent there until November 2006. Luella was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls and the Ladies Aid. She was also a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and the Senior Citizens of Fergus Falls.
Her hobbies included quilting, knitting, crocheting, gardening and flowers, cheering on the Minnesota Twins and collecting pheasant glasses. Luella loved to travel to various places.
Preceding her in death were her parents, William and Tina; her husband Donald in 2011; four brothers, Arthur (Doris), Bill (Ginny), Marv (Sylvia) and Harold (Inez) and a sister, Ruth (Elmer) Haglund; three brothers- in-law, Hartvick (Viola) Estenson, Virgil Estenson and Marlin Estenson and a mother and father in-law, Oscar and Marie Estenson.
She is survived by her four sons, Wayne Estenson of Fergus Falls, Steve Estenson of St. Paul, Kurt Estenson of New Richmond, Wisconsin and Lee (Kitty) Estenson of Key West, Florida; two grandchildren, LaShawna and Christopher of Gillette, Wyoming; 6 great grandchildren, Joshua, Lakisha, Kiylee, LexiAnn, Hayden and Rayina; two sisters-in-law, Marion (Bob) Thompson and Betty Estenson; and goddaughter, Vicki Pederson who was always there for Lou including holding vigil at the end, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
Visitation: Monday, June 20, 2016 from 5-7 P.M., with a prayer service at 6:30, at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church.
Funeral Service: 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.
Clergy: Pastor Saul Stensvaag
Interment: First Lutheran Cemetery, Fergus Falls
Luella's Memorial Folder
Luella Estenson Tribute Video