Esther was born and raised on a farm in the Felton, MN area. At the age of 14, Esther and her twin brother, Lester, moved to a boarding house in Moorhead in order to attend Moorhead High School. After graduation, Esther attended Interstate Business College eventually becoming a telephone operator at Fairmont Creamery. She met and married LaVerne Kjonaas, brother of her sister Bernice’s husband, LeRoy Kjonaas. Esther and Vern lived in Fargo and raised three children. Vern passed away in 1966. Esther found her passion working at the Children’s Harbor School in Moorhead, eventually becoming a special education paraprofessional in the Moorhead Public Schools where she worked until her retirement.

In 1982, Esther married Russell Lake. They enjoyed traveling, their lake home in Minnesota, their home in Arizona and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After Russ’ death in 1995, Esther remained in Fargo, active at Messiah Lutheran Church and Trollwood Village Apartments.
In 2012 Esther moved into Eventide on 8th in Moorhead. She and her family appreciated the excellent care and kindness provided by the staff at Eventide and Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Esther passed away on January 2, at Eventide on 8th in Moorhead, MN.
Esther is survived by her daughter, Kathy (Paul) Anderson, Moorhead, MN; son, Scott (Cindy Saar) Kjonaas, Moorhead, MN; step-children, Jennifer (Kim) Eckerstrom, Plymouth, MN, Bev Lake (Les Bakke), Moorhead, MN and Russ Lake (Britain Scott), Hudson, WI; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Lake; husband, LaVern Kjonaas; son, Lonnie Kjonaas; step-daughter, Barbara Lake and her twin brother, Lester Stine.