Joseph Espeseth

Joseph "Joe" Espeseth, age 85, from Erskine, MN passed away on Wednesday, July 30th at North Country Health Services-Senior Behavioral Health Unit in Bemidji, MN. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, August 9th at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine with Rev. Timothy Lundeen officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour before the service at the church and interment of cremains will be at Fairview Cemetery, rural Erskine. Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Erskine is in charge of the arrangements. Sympathy messages may be sent to www. carlinhoialmen.com.Joe was born September 4, 1922 in Roseau, MN, to parents Knute and Alma (Engeberg) Espeseth. He grew up in Roseau, attended country school, and worked on the family farm where he developed his lifelong passion for horses. On June 5, 1946 he was united in marriage to Evangeline "Vannie" Howe of Erskine, MN. The couple moved to Erskine where they resided for 62 years.He worked as a carpenter and built many houses throughout the area. In 1961 he was employed as a custodian by the Erskine Public School where he ended his working career after 31 years of dedicated service. Joe was a diligent, responsible worker and was highly regarded by his co-workers and the community. It was well known, "You can always count on Joe!" whether it was keeping the boilers running on a long cold winter's night, retrieving a forgotten book after hours for an absent minded student, or opening up the school for a teacher who misplaced their keys.Joe will always be remembered for his warm kind smile, his great love of horses, having coffee and shaking dice with his buddies at the local cafes, and his love and dedication for his family.Joe was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine.On Wednesday, July 30, 2008 Joe Espeseth passed away at North Country Health Services-Senior Behavioral Health Unit in Bemidji, MN after having been a resident of Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine from November of 2007 to July 26, 2008, at the age of 85 years.He is survived by his wife, Vannie of Erskine; children, Sandy (AL) Kauppi of Circle Pines, MN, Dave (Kang) Espeseth of Crestview, FL, Diane Espeseth of Circle Pines, MN, Jim (Deb) Espeseth of Bagley, MN, and Shari (Lee) Jarka of Coon Rapids, MN; grandchildren, Terri, Mike, Brandy, Jeremy, Jamie, and Shayley; great grandchildren, Brady and Tiffany; sisters, Agnes Carlson of Erskine and Irene Storey of Apple Valley, MN; brothers, Clarence Espeseth of Pine City, MN and Clifford (Dottie) Espeseth of Island Pond, VT; and several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, JoAnne McWilliam; former son-in-law, Jan McWilliam; brother, Kenny; sister Ruthie Hagen; an infant sister, Alice, and stillborn twin sisters; brothers-in-law, Stanley Storey, John Carlson, and Roy Hagen; and sister-in-law, Kay Espeseth.