Esther Bjornson

    Memorial services for Esther Bjornson will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, April 27. Pastor
    Brandon Smithson will officiate at the service at the Plentywood Lutheran Church; interment
    of cremated remains is planned for St. John's Cemetery, east of Plentywood. Esther died
    Tuesday, December 23, 2008, in Fort Benton, MT; she was 91.

    Esther was born on May 8, 1917 on a farm near Comertown, MT to Oscar and Anna (Jensen)
    Fransen. She grew up and went to grade school in a building that her father Oscar Fransen
    had donated the land to the county. Then she went to Comertown High School where she
    was Valedictorian in 1936. She was very dedicated to education throughout her life and was
    always taking college classes by telephone connection and extension classes with Dawson
    College and Carroll college. She managed to take enough classes to acquire enough
    college credits to graduate the oldest graduate Dawson College ever had in 1987 with a
    Associate of Arts Degree with Honors. Through her efforts and value of education she
    inspired all of her children to complete college.
    After High School graduation she went to North Central Business School (now North Central
    University) in Minneapolis for a year. While in Minneapolis, she worked for Hogenson
    Construction Co., a company who built several elevators on the highline.

This was where she met Bjorn Bjornsen. They were married on June 4, 1949 in Trondheim, Norway, where Bjorn was from. They moved
to Plentywood where they built their home and raised their family. Esther worked for Bob Nelson Accounting, Gordon Holte Insurance,
Western Implement; she did accounting work for Paul Olson at home, and she did several income taxes for people in the area up to last
year.

Throughout her life, she worked to enrich her community. She was involved in 4-H, Camp Fire Girls, and Cub Scouts while her children
were growing up and continued to volunteer through last year. Esther was involved in many organizations, helping where ever she was
needed. Esther was a member of the Plentywood Assembly of God church. She enjoyed their garden and canned and filled the freezer
with their bountiful produce. She was the volunteer the Golden Years Club as the treasurer from 1988 to recent years. She also helped
with the congregate meals. She was a RSVP volunteer in Plentywood and involved with the Council of Aging for Sheridan County. As a 4-
H volunteer she has helped writing grant applications for 501c3 classification for the district. She has been involved with 4-H since 1961.
She was honored by the Montana State 4-H Council for volunteering. She received the Friend of 4-H in 2002. She was still volunteering
until this last February for both the Golden Years and 4-H. She loved music and every chance she went to the school and other concerts
in the area. She taught the appreciation of music to her children. She loved to be with people and attended many community functions
and events. She was involved with the Sheridan County Fair every year for several years.

Esther liked to travel. She and Bjorn went to Norway to get married. She took several trips in the US. When Bernhard was in the military
stationed in Germany she made two trips to Europe to visit him. One time to Norway and one that included a tour of several other
European countries. Esther, Bjorn and Bernhard took two other trips to Norway. She also went with Bernhard and her granddaughter
Diane again to Norway after Diane graduated from high school. She made several trips to California. The last one, last June, she
travelled with Bernhard to California to her grandson's, Daniel Bellonzi, High School Graduation and visit with family and friends.

Esther is survived by her son and two daughters and their families, Bernhard and Gloria Bjornsen of St. Paul, MN, Emelie and Oscar
Trunk of Ft. Benton, MT and Helen and Peter Bellonzi of Watsonville, CA. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Elaine (Aaron) Fields of
Sidney, MT, Diane (Morton) Thomasson of Billings, MT, Daniel, Nicole and Abigail Bellonzi of Watsonville, CA. and one great-
granddaughter, Laryssa Fields. She is also survived by a brother, Edwin Fransen, and a sister, Edith Haarstad.  Esther was preceded in
death by her parents, Oscar and Anne Fransen, her brother John Fransen, her husband, Bjorn, in 2000 and daughter, Marianne in 1998.

Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood has charge of arrangements.
. . . . in Memory of . . . .
1917 - 2009
Comments:
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Remembering Esther
Very fond memories of Bjorn and Esther growing up in P'wood. Love, honor and respect for them both. Condolences to all.

David Polk
Helena, Montana
davidnpolk@gmail.com
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I loved Esther.  She was so intelligent, and I remember her so well in 4-H.  She was always so kind.  My thoughts and prayers are with all
the family.

Cyndi (Hilyard) Vitone
Montara, CA
climbamountain@hotmail.com
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Esther was a woman that will always be dear to my heart.  She had a great smile and always wished the best for everyone.  She was a
fabulous 4-H leader and a great role model. She made a large impact on my life and the life of many others in the area.  She will be
greatly missed.

Lynette Wilson Eaton
Zahl, ND