Esther Susannah Anderson Bjork

Born April 2, 1888; Married February 28, 1908 (Carl Helmer Bjork, d. Oct 1, 1929) ;
Died September 10, 1954

Children: Eugene Arthur Bjork, June 29, 1909; Gordon E. Bjork, February 23, 1911

She was born in Chicago, the second daughter of Victor and Hannah Anderson. 
She married Helmer Carl Andrew Bjork in Des Moines February 28, 1908. 
Helmer died October 1, 1926.  She remained single until her death.
Mother was always on the chubby side as I remember way back in my early
days.  She was a good mother, a loving wife, and a great home maker.
She was very active in all church functions, President of Ladies Aid,
sang alto in the choir, member of Samarite Ferbundant, had many friends
around home, she was an active member of Eastern Star, sang in their
chorus too, did some piano accompanying for especially her husband.
 After Helmer died in 1926 she went to work full time in tailoring mostly.
 She was a finisher in the tailor shops, as well as being employed at times
dress making.  She lived for a few years with my father's brother, Ellis
Bjork, and when he died she continued to live with his wife, Aunt Lilly.
Her health was always radiant until about 1950 when she discovered she
had cancer in her breast. She had a radical mastectomy and seemed to be
recovering.  About three years later she began to have problems with
balance.  Diagnosis indicated a brain tumor.  An operation was too chancy
so she elected to face a sooner reunion with Helmer.  Deterioration was
quite rapid and she died in early October 1954, still loving and missing
Helmer.  She was very close to her brothers and sisters, too. She was a
fine Christian who left a great Christian heritage to her two sons and
grandchildren.

For many years one of her hobbies was dressing dolls with costumes from all parts
of the world.  These she sold for a very modest figure, giving the entire proceeds to
the foreign mission work of the Conference Baptists.

- Gordon E. Bjork, 1984