Magnhild “Maggie” Astrid Easter
Posted By Ballard Sunder Funeral Home On November 25, 2023 @ 11:17 am In 2023,Obituaries | 2 Comments
Magnhild “Maggie” Astrid Easter, 94, of Minneapolis, passed away on November 22, 2023. A Celebration of Life will be held in her honor on December 2, 2023 at CrossPoint Church in Bloomington, MN (9801 France Ave S) starting at 11am. Prior to the Celebration, there will be visitation from 9:30-11am. Maggie will be laid to rest beside her husband at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Maggie lived her life in testimony of the saving Grace of Jesus. She demonstrated His love with every interaction and His light shone through her.
Maggie was born and raised in Richfield Minnesota, an only child of Norwegian immigrants. When she was 16, her life changed abruptly when her father died suddenly. After graduating high school at Minnehaha Academy, she needed to get a job to help support her family. Maggie ended up working at Pillsbury’s research and development lab in the mill district of Minneapolis. For five years she worked as a lab assistant for her boss, Ross Easter. To the surprise of many, they eventually married. Because of her strong Christian faith Maggie desired to marry a man of like faith and maturity. At first, Ross was not that man but eventually, after receiving a New Testament bible from her, he read straight through the Gospel of John and decided to accept Jesus as Lord of his life. They were married November 14, 1953 at Salem Evangelical Free Church in Minneapolis. Soon afterwards they purchased a home in South Minneapolis where they raised two boys, Randy and Mark.
Ross and Maggie were very involved in their home church, Salem Free Church. As Maggie’s mother Astrid lived with her, and was her only immediate relative, she adopted her church family as her own. She was involved in Sunday School teaching, supporting missionaries and eventually leading organized youth activities. Maggie was a superb baker and delicious home baked bread and rolls from scratch were eagerly consumed. She was also very crafty in designing and sewing up all kinds of outfits and was DIY before DYI was popular. She was ahead of her time experimenting with tofu, making whole grain and rustic foods. When Ross developed Alzheimer’s disease, she cared for him for many years at home and, when finally, he needed professional care, she would visit most days to feed him and to meet her new friends. Everywhere she went, she made new friends.
After living for 50 years in her home on 49th street Maggie decided to move to Becketwood, a senior cooperative located along the Mississippi River near Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis. It was 2004. She immediately fell in love with Becketwood and especially the people living there. By involving herself in various committees and activities she kept busy, always having someone to share life with. She spent hours sewing cloth bags, microwavable potato cooking sacks, soup bowl hot pads, casserole two-handed hot pads, along with many other items. When the Covid pandemic hit she was busy sewing cloth masks making more than 100. As a member of the craft council Maggie helped make and distribute baby quilts and fleece teddy bears to children’s charities and women’s shelters.
Maggie kept track of the Becketwood wildlife she saw out her window. Wild turkeys, squirrels, and birds were subjects of interest. However, hummingbirds were an obsession with her. Every year she and her son held a contest to see who would observe the first hummingbird of the Springtime migration. And every year she would feign disappointment as her son would win. However, in the Fall of 2023 she got the last hurrah when she saw the last hummingbird of the year.
Maggie was very grateful for the medical support she received from family and friends during her hospitalizations and illnesses.
Maggie loved people and was loved by many. She will be missed!
Maggie is survived by her children, Randy (Rosemary) Easter and Mark (Karen) Easter; grandchildren; Krista (Dana Johnson) Easter, Ollie (Meredith Lum) Easter Lum, Anya Easter, Dasha Easter, Megan (Shawn) Person, Kelsey (Dan) Steinbrecher, Cameron (Oliver Renwick) Easter; great grandchildren, Autumn, Sienna, Keira, Aria, Lilly, Adalyn; and many other loving friends and family. Maggie is preceded in death by her husband, Ross Easter; parents Magnus and Astrid Opsahl.
In lieu of flowers Maggie and her family have requested a donation be made to:
reachglobal.ministries.efca.org or Samaritan’s Purse.
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Maggie was a very dear friend since the 1950s. I admired her many talents and she was certainly mature beyond her years as a young woman. We were often invited to their home in our early years at Salem and did keep in touch throughout our lifetime. Just last year while I was in Minnesota for several months I made it a point to spend some time with her. I am so glad I did. I cherished her friendship. She was a gift from God to me.
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Maggie was such a joy! I loved her conversations. Looking into Scandinavian history, recipes and language. She loved to see the kids, enjoying their antics and play.
May all your memories be full of joy. Smile and remember her wisdom.