Hilma J. Gjestvang
Hilma Janice Gjestvang was called to her Heavenly home, August 15, 2026. A devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, Hilma’s life was a beautiful reflection of faith, kindness, giving and creativity.
Born April 30, 1932, at home in the Town of Hale, to Helmer and Judith (Larvick) Johnson, Hilma attended Caswell Elementary School and graduated from Lincoln Hill High School in Osseo. She was baptized, confirmed, and married in Elk Creek Lutheran Church of Hale.
On September 15, 1950, she married the love of her life, Lester Gjestvang. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family and community, farming and raising their family in the Pleasantville area with love and laughter until moving to Whitehall in 2004. Their marriage was a true partnership that endured for 72 years until Lester’s passing in 2022.
Always finding ways to serve others, Hilma was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church of Pleasantville, where she worshipped, held multiple offices, served faithfully for decades, and where her faith remained the cornerstone of her life. She also served her community as a dedicated 4-H leader for the Pike Pep-Ups 4-H Club for 39 years and a member of the Citizens Advisory Board of the Tri-County Memorial Nursing Home where she volunteered, and she was recognized in 2013, with the Armed Forces Support Hero award, from the American Red Cross for crocheting thousands of skull caps for soldiers serving in the armed forces. She and Lester were presented with a Citizen-of-the-Year award by the Pleasantville Lions Club in 1998, and Hilma received this honor again in 2022 from the Whitehall Lions Club.
The pride of her life, however, was her family, whom she held at the center of everything she did and loved with her whole heart. She was generous, selfless and loved any excuse to gather with family and friends, even if it was just to “stop by for coffee”. Hilma’s heart and hands were gifted with creativity and care. In addition to farming and lovingly raising her family, she found joy in cooking, baking, gardening, canning, quilting, embroidering, Norwegian rosemaling, crocheting and other crafts that brought beauty into everyday life. Her quilts, embroidery and rosemaled pieces remain treasured keepsakes to many.
She is lovingly remembered by her children: Jeanine Thomley of Whitehall, Leona Torpen of Strum, Rollin (Sally) Gjestvang of Pleasantville, Kaylin Wiemer of Buffalo City, and Roselie (Andrew) Vaughan of Bloomington, MN; her 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great great-grandchild; several nieces and nephews, and all who were blessed to know her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; infant sister, Beatrice; brother, Ernest Johnson; sister-in-law, Donna Johnson; sister-in-law, Esther Berg; brothers-in-law: Clarence Herman and Lester Berg; sons-in-law: Loren Thomley and Richard Torpen; niece, Edy Price; and nephews: John Herman and Harvey Johnson.
Hilma’s life was a tapestry of love—stitched together with faith, family, farming and the joy of giving. Her gentle spirit and enduring kindness will live on in the hearts of those she touched.
Funeral services were held Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasantville.
Hilma’s family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Pigeon Falls Health Care Center and St. Croix Hospice who provided love and comfort in her final days.
