Esther L. (Nesset) Grinna, age 91, of Decorah, Iowa, died Feb. 27, 2016, at Barthell O.E.S. Home in Decorah.

Memorial Services were held April 1, 2016, at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. Charis Combs-Lay officiating.

Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.fjelstul.com.

Esther Lucille (Nesset) Grinna was born on Nov. 13, 1924, in Leeds, N.D., to Blanche A. (Lawston) Nesset and Alfred O. Nesset ’13. She graduated from Leeds High School in 1942, and graduated from Luther College in 1946.

Esther was united in marriage with Alden Theodore Grinna on May 17, 1949, in West Clermont Lutheran Church, Clermont, Iowa. They were blessed with four children: Mary (died soon after birth in 1950), Mary Lynn, Susan and Stephen.

She worked as the secretary to the editor of the Decorah Newspapers for a number of years. She also worked for many years at Luther College, in the Business Office, where she supplied her children, nieces, and nephews with a listening ear, lots of advice, and candy when they stopped by her office. After retirement, she volunteered at several places, including Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum and Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Alden on October 5, 2014; a baby girl in infancy in 1950; her daughter, Mary (Grinna) Yount ’73, on Jan. 12, 2007; and her sister Ruth Eggleston.

Esther is survived by two children, Susan (Grinna) Youngs ’77 (Steve) of Webster, N.H., and Steve Grinna ’81 (Kim) of Decorah; twelve grandchildren: Brittany (Leisinger) Metzig ’98 (Charles Metzig ’01), Blake (Stephanie) Leisinger; Thea, Nora, and Merike Youngs ’14; Grant, Sierra, Moriah, Garrison, Sophia, Stella, and Angelica Grinna; five great-grandchildren: Gus, Henry, and Asher Metzig, McKinley and Elijah Leisinger; one sister Elsie (Nesset) Kittleson ’51 of Decorah; and by many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given to Luther College, c/o Development Office, 700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101 or Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago Street, Decorah, IA 52101.