Vesta Mitchell

Vesta Karen Mitchell was born October 25, 1925 to Einar and Hilda (Andersen) Christensen in Hope Township, Lincoln County, Minnesota. She was baptized at Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler on December 15, 1925, and confirmed there on May 26, 1940. She attended country school through the 9th grade, and then was a nanny for various families in Tyler. On December 14, 1944 Vesta married Ray Mitchell. Their union was blessed with two daughters and 23 years of life together. The couple lived two years in Florida before returning to the area and in 1953 began farming by Ruthton, Minnesota. Following Ray’s death in 1968, Vesta moved to Redwood Falls, Minnesota and worked for a year at Control Data, then moved to Jackson, Minnesota to take a job at Univac. She then did child care and later took a job with Technical Services for Electronics in Jackson. She retired in 2002 at the age of 77 and moved to Tracy. She moved to Garnette Gardens Memory Care in Redwood Falls in 2010, and in 2014 became a resident of Sunwood Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Redwood Falls. On Tuesday, October 21, 2014 Vesta died at Sunwood four days before her 89th birthday.

Vesta was a member of Danebod Lutheran Church where she had participated in the women's groups. She enjoyed sewing, crafts, cooking, and baking, being known for her spritz cookies. She was a fan of the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings, and had a special love for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She was a devoted mother, daughter, wife, sister, and friend who was always there to help.

Vesta is lovingly remembered by her daughters. Barbara Olson and her husband Eugene 'Buzzy' of Tracy, MN, and Mary Jean Mitchell of Slayton, MN; four grandchildren, Michelle (Shawn) Cilek of Redwood Falls, MN, Michael (Deb) Olson of Garvin, MN, Matthew (Dawn) Olson of Centerville, SD, and Malynnda (Rich) Erickson of Golden Valley, MN; 14 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Alice Thorstad of Federal Way, WA, and Jean Dettmer of Lake City, MN; brothers Harold (Joan) Christensen of Rochester, MN, and Howard (Mary Ann) Christensen of Taunton, MN; brother-in-law Bobbie Haskel of Chandler, AZ; sister-in-law Marge Christensen of Garvin, MN; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her parents; two brothers, Melvin and Dan Christensen; and two sisters, Gladys Armstrong and Shirley Haskel.

Blessed be her memory.