Funeral services for Chester C. Braaten, age 87, of Albert Lea, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church. The Rev. Bruce Falksen will officiate. Interment will be in Red Oak Grove Cemetery. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. today, Sept. 4, at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Chester died Monday, Sept. 1, 2003, at Albert Lea Medical Center.

Chester Clarence Braaten was born March 1, 1916, to Thomas and Anna (Thompson) Braaten in Eagle Bend, Minn. For 16 years Chester worked the family farm while his brothers were in the service. On Sept. 19, 1942, Chester was united in marriage to Naomi Reimers in Austin. The couple continued farming the family farm. In 1951 they moved to Maple Island where Chester worked for Wards. In 1952, he began working for Ulland Bros. as a heavy equipment operator, retiring in 1981. During their working years, Chester and Naomi enjoyed fishing and spending time at their cabin on Cedar Lake with their children and grandchildren. Chester was a member of Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church and the Operating Engineers Local 49.

Survivors include children: Judy and husband Dennis Moen of Lake Stevens, Wash., and David and wife Mary Braaten of Albert Lea; grandchildren: Eric Moen of Lake Stevens, Wash., Amber Nolan and daughter Lauren of Brea, Calif., Dana and husband David Vander Waal and their twins, Ryan and Kristi, of Yorba Linda, Calif., Trent Goskeson and children, Alix and Evan, of Albert Lea, Heidi and husband Chris Venem and twins, Josie and Jaiden, of Albert Lea; and great-granddaughter, Melissa Moen and her daughter Breahana of Brea, Calif. Other survivors are brother, George and wife Edna Braaten of Austin; sisters: Milda Williamson of Austin, Bernice and husband Sylvester Thompson of Austin, Netta and husband Arley Hutson of Austin, and Anna and husband Floyd Hemingway of Missoula, Mont.; sisters-in-law: Cora Braaten of Austin, and Doris Braaten of Moscow; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

Chester was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Naomi; and brothers and sisters: Hazel Cockran, Henry E. Braaten, Ole Braaten, Edna Ryan, Tilmen Braaten, Myrtle McMahon and Alice Majerus; and grandson, Don Moen.