Ella Anna Eva Fester

Ella Anna Eva Fester was born on August 14, 1929, in rural Castana, IA, to Henry and Mary (Waderich) Dethlefs, the youngest of seven children. She attended a country school near Soldier, IA, through the eighth grade. She then worked at Denison Dry Cleaners.

She met the love of her life, Leo A. Fester, at a dance in Westside, IA. They were married at the Lutheran Parsonage in Onawa on May 3, 1950. They had three children: Jeanette, Leon, and Paulette. Leo was a farmer, and Ella was a stay-at-home mom and farm wife. She stayed busy helping on the farm and caring for her family, while also cooking, baking, gardening, canning, and raising chickens.

Leo, Ella, and their family first lived on a farm south of Ute. In 1957, they moved to a nearby farm, living there until Leo retired from farming. In 1976, they moved to a house in Ute. Leo lived there until his death on April 18, 1988. Ella lived there until Dec. 2018, when she moved to live with her children until she moved to Denison Health Care Center on May 2026.

She was quite involved in her church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ute, where she was confirmed in 1944, later taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and was involved in Ladies Aid. She also gave church lessons at the Mapleton Nursing Home.

After their move to Ute, Ella had an in-town paper route. Later, she enjoyed traveling with three girlfriends on bus tours. She also regularly played cards with friends and belonged to the Red Hats, Lucky 13 Club, and American Legion Auxiliary. She spent a lot of her time attending sporting events that her grandchildren were involved in. They were blessed to see Grandma in the stands quite often! Ella also loved sporting events on TV and was especially fond of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Ella was a Godly, hardworking woman, loving, giving, and kind, setting a very good example to her family and friends. Ella made a big impact on her family and will be missed.

Ella, age 97, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Denison Health Care Center. She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Mary Dethlefs; husband, Leo Fester; siblings: Esther Nemitz, Marie Etchison, Walter Dethlefs, Henry Dethlefs, Louise Ferris, and Clara Walde; and granddaughter, Heidi Keough. She is survived by her children, Jeanette (Ron) Keough of Forest City, IA; Leon (Penny) Fester of Logan, IA; and Paulette Von Glan of Westside, IA; 9 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren; and extended family and friends.

Visitation with family greeting friends will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Memory Sharing at 5:00 p.m., all at Huebner Funeral Home in Denison. Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ute. Burial will be held in St. Clair Cemetery in Ute. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society in Ella’s name.