Esther C. Shelgren, age 96, of Albert Lea, died Saturday, April 16, 2005, at the Bethesda Rehabilitation Hospital in St. Paul. According to her wishes, there will be no service.

Esther Clarice Shelgren was born on June 23, 1908, in North Dakota, the daughter of Elmer and Clara (Nelson) Bennes. Esther moved at an early age to Thief River Falls with her family and there she completed high school. Esther graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1932. On Feb. 13, 1943, Esther was united in marriage to Charles Shelgren in Kansas City, Mo. Following their marriage, Esther and Charles moved to Albert Lea in 1951. They subsequently lived in Freeborn, Sun City, Ariz., Bemidji, Hackensack, Winona, and returned to Albert Lea to live at Thorne Crest in 1996.

Throughout her life Esther wore &uot;many hats.&uot; She was a teacher, a dental assistant, shoe saleswoman, bank teller, and seamstress. She was known as a good and caring friend, always ready to play bridge, attend or host a coffee party, dance, bake, and enjoy a good laugh. A highlight of her last years was being part of the coffee social at Thorne Crest with a group that included friendships spanning 50 years.

She was &uot;Nannie&uot; or &uot;Nana&uot; to Jennifer Chabot-Myers, Erin Fagan, Matthew Juaire and Anne Juaire; and a new generation – Jackson and Michael Fagan. She will be missed by her husband, Charles; daughters: Susan Chabot and her husband David, and Charlotte Juaire and her husband Stephen.

If you wish to remember Esther, in lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Alzheimer’s Association and have a cookie and a cup of coffee in her memory.