Esther Ellen Klasen, 79, of Bemidji, died Monday, March 15, 2010, at North Country Regional Hospital, Bemidji.
The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 19, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Bemidji, with Bishop Tony Murphy officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, March 18, at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in St. Antipas Episcopal Cemetery, Redby.
Honorary pallbearers will be her family and friends.
Pallbearers will be Chris Dudley, Lukas Dudley, David Dudley, Bradley Dudley, Patrick Dudley, Suzanne Smith and alternate Harry Dudley.
She was born June 7, 1930, to Charles and Eva (Day) Carlson in Red Lake. She grew up in Redby and attended school in Redby and Red Lake. She married Edward Dudley in Redby. They lived in Redby and Nymore. She lived in Bemidji most of her life. She married Herb Klasen in Bemidji. She lived in Las Vegas, Nev. Caring for her grandson. She worked as a records clerk for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. She enjoyed playing bingo, watching softball and hunting.
She is survived by her sons, Thomas (Gloria) Dudley of Bemidji, David Dudley of Redby, John (Ella Beartusk- Lame Deer) Dudley of Redby, James (Winona) Dudley of Redby, Richard Dudley of Bemidji and Gerald (Faye) Dudley of Bemidji; daughters, Deborah Beaulieu of Bemidji and Rebecca (Leon) Barrett of Red Lake; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother, Joseph Howard of Redby.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Edward Dudley and Herb Klasen; and son, Joseph Dudley.