Esther Presler

Esther M. Presler, age 87 of Padua, passed away peacefully while waiting for the Minnesota Twins game to start on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at Chateau Waters in Sartell, Minnesota.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, June 28 at Big Grove Lutheran Church in Belgrade with Deacon Brenda Handel-Johnson officiating. Inurnment will be held in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the church.

Esther Mardella Torkelson was born April 2, 1937 in Humboldt County, Iowa to Jacob and Amy (Warland) Torkelson. She was raised in Iowa and graduated from Humboldt High School in 1955. Esther was very active in high school and was crowned homecoming queen. When she was 13, she met Keith Presler on the ballfield during Vacation Bible School. The two attended the same church but went to rival schools of Eagle Grove and Humboldt. One month after she graduated high school the couple married on June 26, 1955 at Ullensvang Lutheran Church in Thor, Iowa. Together they farmed in Iowa for one year while Keith also worked for John Deere and Esther worked at the bank. A year later they moved to Minnesota. 

She was a member of Big Grove Lutheran Church in rural Belgrade where she taught Sunday School and was Superintendent, a member of WELCA, and served on the cemetery board. Esther enjoyed upholstery, sewing, reading, puzzles, and hearing from her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband of nearly 69 years, Keith Presler of Sartell; children, Kevin Presler of Royalton, Kathleen (Barry) Johnson of Sauk Centre, Kent (Therese) Presler of Rice, Kraig (JoAnn) Presler of Brandon, South Dakota, Kyle (Susan) Presler of Cave Creek, Arizona, and Kristopher (Sheila) Presler of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; 24 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Lois Christopher of Thor, Iowa, Pearl Pedersen of Luverne, Iowa, Jean Lehman of Eagle Grove, Iowa, Ruby (Don) Thompson of Marshfield, Wisconsin, Russell (Loralee) Torkelson of Hackensack, David (Carol) Torkelson of Vincent, Iowa, and Bruce (Mary) Torkelson of Gilmore City, Iowa; and sister-in-law, Mildred Torkelson of Gilmore City, Iowa.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters, Naomi Torkelson, Arnold Torkelson, Beverly Bowen, Nina Abrams, and Steven Torkelson; sister-in-law, Paula Torkelson; and brothers-in-law, Richard Christopher, Cecil Pedersen, Melvin Lehman, Ralph Bowen, and Mike Abrams.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Big Grove Lutheran Church.