Esther M. Saude

Esther M. Saude, 81, died Tuesday, July 26, 2016, in the company of family and friends who were there to support her in the final days of her earthly life.

Esther Marie Hagen was born at home on the farm in Finnegan Township, Rolette County, ND, on July 6, 1935. She was the only daughter born to Mathias (Math) and Clara (Johnson) Hagen and she joined six brothers. She attended Dewey #2 School and Rolette High School. The family were members of Valle Lutheran Church in Rolette. As a family nine miles from town, they made their own fun and looked forward to Farmers Union events, country school activities, and visiting with the neighbors. Her father emigrated from Norway in 1906 and settled on the farm in the 1920s. There were countless stories about the antics of the kids at Dewey #2, located a mile east of the Hagen farm. Esther's brother, Carl, introduced her to a farm boy named Alton Saude at a dance in Barton, ND, and the rest is history. Alton's career with Farmers Union Central Exchange (Cenex) took them to Rugby and Rolette, ND, Roseau, MN, and finally Ada, MN. Alton died in 2006 and Esther moved to an apartment in Dilworth, MN, in 2012. She moved into Serenity Assisted Living earlier this year.

In earlier years, Esther participated in bowling leagues and was very involved in the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Royal Neighbors and her churches. A pinochle game could break out at any time and she took joy in teaching her grandchildren the game. Later she found BINGO, coffee with the ladies and doting on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to occupy her time. She didn't enjoy travel, but in 2000, Alton and she ventured off to Norway. They each visited ancestral homes of their immigrant parents or grandparents. Esther was a recent member of Sons of Norway Kringen Lodge in Fargo.

Esther is survived by five sons and one daughter, John (Kay), Ada, MN, James (Carol), West Fargo, ND, Jerry (Sonna), Bismarck ND, Timmy, Glyndon, MN, Terry (Kathy), Wilmington, NC, and Tammy (Marty) Schoenfeld, Fargo ND; grandchildren, Gabriel (Jennifer), Ashley (Chris), Jamie, Jason (Sarah), Sigurd, Bjorn, Noah , Grifen, and Kalin; great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Carter, Makayla, Adam and Kolton; and one brother, Leonard (Arliss) Hagen of Yuma, AZ. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Alton; brothers, Johnnie, Carl, Donald, Stanley and Arthur.

The family intends to direct memorials to the church's building fund, HOPE Inc, and the Barton Cemetery.

A service of remembrance and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2016, at 2 PM in Dilworth Lutheran Church, 406 3rd Ave NE, Dilworth, with visitation from 1-2 PM. Burial of ashes will be at the Hagen farm and the Barton Cemetery at a later date.