Esther Jones

Funeral Services for Esther J. Gunderson Jones, 88, of Baker, MT will be at 10:00 a. m. on Monday, January 26, 2009 in the Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker with Pastors Bruce & Reba Kolasch officiating. Interment will follow in the Gunderson Family lot in Bonnievale Cemetery at Baker. Visitation will be 1:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. on Sunday, January 25th, at Stevenson Funeral Home. Esther passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2009 at the Fallon Medical Complex in Baker, MT. Esther Jennie Gunderson was born on December 29, 1920, a daughter of John and Johanna (Birkeland) Gunderson in Baker, MT. Esther grew up on the Gunderson farm just south of Baker. She attended Baker schools where she graduated. While in high school, Esther was fascinated with numbers and arithmetic as well as chemistry. Following graduation, Esther worked as a Bookkeeper at the local Chevrolet garage, and served one term as the elected Fallon County Treasurer. While working in the courthouse, Esther met and later married Ray Jones. Esther and Ray farmed south of Marmarth, ND and together the couple made their home in Marmarth where they owned and operated the local grocery store. As time went on, Esther and Ray sold the grocery store and would take the winters off, and travel to California or Hawaii. After Ray?s death, Esther moved to Baker where she continued to make her home until her death. Esther embraced life as an adventure to be enjoyed. She took many cruises and traveled to Hawaii, Alaska and Norway. She loved her nieces and nephews as her own children and enjoyed being involved in their lives. Many of her travels included them. This special bond between her nieces and nephews will provide many wonderful memories over the years to come. Esther was instrumental in helping to acquire the present Baker Senior Citizens Center. Esther enjoyed doing crossword and jig saw puzzles, fishing and spending time with her friends at the senior center. In the past years, Esther enjoyed the daily visits with her nephew, Greg. She appreciated the opportunity to have called Quality Personal Care her home since 2001. Esther was a member of the American Lutheran Church, the Baker Women?s Club, Baker Senior Center and the Son?s of Norway. Those left to mourn her passing are her brother, Martin (Lucille) Gunderson, Baker, MT, her nieces and nephews, Greg (Judy) Gunderson, Baker, MT, Velora (Frank) Strom, Williston, ND, Tom (Cindy) Gunderson, Yuma , CO, Marcella (Rod) Enos, Pocatello, ID, Barbara (Ranger) Dykema, Manhattan, MT, Ida Chamberlain, Dinuba, CA, Brian Gunderson, Baker, MT and Mike (Dorinda) Gunderson, Baker, MT; 17 great nieces and nephews and 12 great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Johanna Gunderson, her husband, Ray Jones, two brothers, Selmer Gunderson and George Gunderson and two sisters, Jennie Gunderson and Ida Wild.


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Burial Date: January 26, 2009
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Service: Monday, Stevenson Funeral Home, Baker, MT.