Velma Kester

Velma Kester, age 88 of Faribault, died on Thursday, December 31, 2015 at her home.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at the Church of Christ in Cleveland with Pastor John Kester officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at 4:00 pm Saturday at the Marion Cemetery in Marion MN. St. Peter Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Velma was born on March 22, 1927 in Ladysmith WI to Albon and Millie (Elwood) Churchill. She graduated as Valedictorian of the 1945 class at Ladysmith High School and later attended MN Bible College in Minneapolis for over 2 years where she met and married Roger Kester on August 29, 1947. They lived in Marion MN and Ladysmith WI before serving churches in Wisconsin including: Island Lake, Eau Claire, Sheldon and Jump River. While in those communities, Velma taught piano to hundreds of children, was a 4H leader and provided foster care for over 50 children and teens. She was a pastor’s wife; playing piano for services, teaching Sunday School and leading VBS. In 1990, they moved to Rochester and later Pleasant Grove MN. In 2009, she moved to Faribault to live with her daughter and in 2015 moved into Deaconess Tower Senior Living. Velma enjoyed reading, playing piano, playing Scrabble and Sudoku puzzles, and writing letters and cards to friends and family.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Ruth (Kerry) Picker of Rochester, Mary (Mark) Howells of Faribault, Lois Kester of Worthington, and John (Cheryl) of Cleveland; 10 grandchildren: Greg (Cally) Picker, Brent (Jen) Picker, Troy (Audra) Picker, Matthew (Michele) Howells, Nathan (Jackie) Howells, Andrea (Matthew) Worsfold, Bev, Elizabeth, Olivia and Jade Kester; 18 great grandchildren and many other extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger, son, David, parents and a brother, Harold.