ESTHER MALINA HARVEY
September 23, 1923 – February 21, 2011

Esther Malina Harvey, age 87 of Park Rapids, MN was escorted through the Gates of Heaven by Our Lord and Savior and husband, Leonard on February 21, 2011 at Hospice of the Valley – Palliative Care Unit, Sun City, AZ with her 4 daughters by her side.
Esther was born on September 23, 1923 in Bradley, South Dakota to John and Bertha (Kaalaas) Melland. It was near Forbes, North Dakota that she attended country school near her parent’s farm and grew into womanhood. As a young woman, Esther worked on her parent’s cattle and crop farm. In the fall of 1941, Esther ventured to Dixon, Illinois where she gained employment working at the Green River Ordinance Plant for a couple of years during WWII. In the summer of 1945, Esther moved to Cooperstown, ND where she met a handsome young farmer named Leonard Howard Harvey. The young couple was married on December 24th of that same year. This union was blessed with four daughters: Linda, Patti, Kathy and Cindy. They engaged in farming near Cooperstown in the first years of their marriage. In 1947, they moved to Willmar, MN where she worked as a waitress at the Town Talk Bakery until first daughter, Linda was born. Esther then devoted herself full time to the demands of being a busy wife and mother. They resided in Willmar until 1967, when they moved to Northern MN and settled in Park Rapids where they lived the rest of their lives. Esther was a woman of deep faith who was always committed to the work and ministry of her church. For many years she taught Sunday School and was a faithful part of the women’s circle and quilting group and wherever else help was needed in the church. She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long remembered for her delicious lefse and ginger cookies. She was an excellent seamstress who loved to work late into the night sewing clothes for her four daughters and even suits for her husband. Esther loved the outdoors and each spring loved to plant a large garden which she nurtured into fruitful abundance to share with her family and friends. She also enjoyed raising beautiful flowers into colorful splendor for all to see and enjoy. Family was paramount in her life and she treasured spending quality time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and touching their lives with her love and patient wisdom. She also enjoyed playing dice and cards with her friends and family. Esther’s full and happy life was forever changed at the death of her husband and soul mate, Leonard who after 65 years of happiness with Esther went ahead to Heaven in March of 2010. Above all, Esther lived her life reflecting her love for her Lord, husband and her family whom she loved with all her heart, strength and mind.
Esther will be lovingly remembered by her four daughters and sons-in-law: Linda (Jim) Becker of Park Rapids, Patti (Alyn) Baker of Northfield, MN, Kathy (Jerry) Sollom of Glendale, AZ and Cindy Eix of Park Rapids; her eight much loved grandchildren: Josh (Sara) Becker and Jenny (Nick) Becker Eischens, Jamie and Ross Baker, Heather and Corey (Kristen) Sollom and Carrie and Kimberly Eix (Brian Vredenburg); three great grandchildren: Ezekiel Becker and Ethan and Halle Eischens; her brother, Dean (Anna) Melland of Forbes, ND; two sisters: Sylvia (Ray) Ofstedal of Brookings, SD and Jennie Flakoll of Forbes, ND; brothers-in-law, Leland and Sidney (Beatrice) Harvey; sister-in-law, Delores Johnson; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents and six sisters: Marie, Minnie, Borghild, Olga, Alma and Clara.
Services will be held at 1:30 P.M. on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, MN with Reverend Stephen Norby officiating. The honorary casketbearers will be her grandchildren: Josh Becker, Jenny Eischens, Jamie Baker, Carrie Eix, Heather Sollom, Kimberly Eix, Corey Sollom and Ross Baker. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be made in the Bethel Cemetery next to her husband, Leonard.