Vera Lorraine Pester

Vera Lorraine Pester, 90, of rural Fisher, MN, died peacefully Saturday, Dec 7, 2024, at Villa St. Vincent, Crookston, MN, with her loving family at her side. Vera was born in Fisher, MN, on January 26, 1934, the daughter of Clarence E. and Mabel (Larson) Hannah. She lived in Fisher, MN, until age 3, and then she and her family moved to Crookston. Vera graduated from Crookston Central High School in 1952. On November 15, 1958, she was united in marriage to Edward Allen Pester at the Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, MN. Edward and Vera returned to the Pester family farm west of Crookston and together raised six children: Diana, Barbara, Todd, Colin, Cynthia, and Nancy.

Vera had an unwavering faith and lived by example in how she loved and cared for others. She was an active, life-long member of the First Presbyterian Church in Crookston, where she served others through teaching Sunday School, serving as an Elder and Deacon, Esther/Ruth Circle, Naomi Circle, Presbyterian Women, and caring for those in need. Vera was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved Edward “Eddie” from their first roller-skate waltz through their 57 years of marriage; their love endured and grew deeper with each passing year. As a dedicated farm wife to Edward, Vera’s days were filled with caring for their children, keeping up with their schoolwork and projects, bringing meals to the field, and keeping everyone in clean clothes. Her late evenings were spent doing the farm books, tracking expenses and income, and not going to bed until everything was balanced to the penny. She also had a close relationship with each of her children and grandchildren, taking every opportunity to listen, laugh, and care for them. She was also often referred to as a second mother or special aunt to many of her nieces and nephews. Music was also very important to Vera. Her love of music began at an early age when she would play her violin with her father, who played drums and piano. Vera played violin in high school orchestra and drums in marching band. She passed her love of music on to her children and grandchildren, and she loved hearing them sing and play at church and school concerts. She also loved cheering them on at their sporting events and other school activities. Vera worked in Crookston as a roller skate-key girl, a receptionist at Northwestern Clinic and Ziegler Caterpillar, and later as a medical transcriptionist at Altru Clinic for 25 years. She had many close friends who met several times a year to celebrate birthdays and enjoy each other’s company. She also loved to bake and share a brownie and coffee with friends when they would simply stop in to visit. Through each interaction with family and friends, she shared love, laughter, and compassion.

Vera will be lovingly remembered by her six children: Diana Pester of Apple Valley, MN, Barbara (Richard) Krueger of East Grand Forks, MN, Todd (Dawn) Pester of Shoreview, MN, Colin (Marlys) Pester of East Grand Forks, MN, Cynthia (John) Farthing of Farmington, MN, and Nancy (John) McDonald of Fisher, MN; fourteen grandchildren: Nathaniel (Haley), Jeremiah, Hannah, Rebekah, and Jonathan Krueger, Hayden (Leah) and Lara Pester, Carson (Alicia) and Blake (Phoebe) Pester, Coleman (Britta), Justine, and Alyssa Farthing, and Adam (Harley) and Elizabeth McDonald; six great-grandchildren: Braxton Sandlin, Brinley and Briggs Pester, Sadie and Paige Pester, and Micah McDonald; her brother, Charles (Diane) Hannah, and sister, Sharon Burtness; sisters-in-law, Kathy Hannah and Carol Hannah, and many extended family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, and infant son; her parents, Clarence and Mabel; brothers, Roger, Kenneth, Bert, Curtis, and Glenn Hannah; sisters, Muriel Tinkham and Clarice Anderson; brothers-in-law, Alton Tinkham, Donald Anderson, and Wayne Burtness; sisters-in-law, Betty Hannah and Gloria Hannah; nieces, Julie Link and Susan Burbank; and nephew, Dean Tinkham. May God richly bless Vera’s memory.