Obit: Peterson, Esther Birdine (1912 – 2003)
Contact: Stan 

Surnames: Peterson, Emerson, Gilbertson, Sullivan, Mason, Thoreson

----Source: The Melrose Chronicle (Black River Falls, Jackson County, Wis.) Apr. 2003

Peterson, Esther Birdine (30 July 1912 – 12 Apr. 2003)

Esther Birdine (Peterson) Emerson, age 90, of Black River Falls, passed on to her heavenly reward on April 12, 2003. Esther had been a resident of the Pine View Care Center since May 4, 2000.

Esther was born on the Peterson homestead, Albion Township, Jackson County, Wis., on July 30, 1912, to parents Peter O. and Caroline E. (Gilbertson) Peterson.

She attended the Pine Grove School and she graduated from the Black River Falls High School with the class of 1931. She was baptized and confirmed at the Little Norway Lutheran Church and she assisted her mother with the development of the initial Sunday School program for this church.

During her early adult years, Esther was employed by the Henry Berg Jewelry Store and the Taylor and Jones Dry Goods Store both located in Black River Falls. She was employed by the Swedish Old Peoples Home in Milwaukee and the Industrial School for Girls in Sparta.

On March 29, 1944, she was united in marriage to Archie R. Emerson at the original Norwegian Lutheran Church in Black River Falls. To this union was born two sons, Aven Ray (who died in infancy) and David Kent, who currently resides in Black River Falls. The couple engaged in dairy farming for many years, predominantly in the Taylor, Wis. vicinity.

Following retirement from farming, Esther worked at the Family Heritage Nursing Home and the Pine View Nursing Home both in Black River Falls. A great lover of children, her years as a teacher's aide in Kindergarten with the Black River Falls School District were among her happiest and most fulfilling years. She was extremely knowledgeable and well versed in her family's history and provided valuable support to genealogists both in this country and Norway.

Esther was a great lover of cooking and baking, and her home was always replete with bounty of her creations. She loved auctions and was a keen participant. She was ever faithful to her God, her church, her family and to the needs of others.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband Archie on January 17, 1985, her infant son, her parents, six brothers, Pliny, Merlin, Raymond, Norman l, Norman II, Price and two sisters, Cora Sullivan and Harriet Mason.

She is survived by her son Commander David K. Emerson, U.S. Navy (retired) and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services for Esther B. Emerson will be Wednesday, April 16, 2003 at 2 p.m. from the Little Norway Lutheran Church. Pastor Calvin Thoreson will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery. Relatives and friends called at Torgerson's Funeral Home on Tuesday from 6 until 8 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 1 p.m. until the time of services.

Pallbearers are her nephews, Eugene, Verland (Chub), Larry, Dean, and Vernon Peterson, and Gene Mason.