Celia Heggestad

Funeral services for Celia Heggestad of Starbuck, MN will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 4, 2023, at Indherred Lutheran Church, Starbuck, MN, with Reverend Paul Johnson officiating. Visitation will be Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck and for one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Burial will be in Indherred Lutheran Cemetery.

Celia Amanda Josephine Anderson, daughter of Joseph and Anna (Hoium) Anderson, was born April 16, 1919, at the home of her grandparents in New Prairie, Minnesota. Celia attended school in Cyrus.  Following high school, she attended Brown Cosmetology School in Minneapolis and became a licensed beautician in 1938.

On September 27, 1940, Celia was united in marriage to Melvin Heggestad.  Following their marriage, the couple farmed in rural Starbuck and Cyrus until 1948, when they purchased their farm place north of Starbuck, near Indherred church.  In 1973 Melvin retired from farming and he and Celia moved to Starbuck. Melvin passed away June 12, 2010, at which time Celia moved to the Minnewaska Apartments; where she lived until 2018, when she moved to Holly Ridge.

Celia was a member of Indherred Lutheran Church for the past 75 years.  She was very active in her church, and enjoyed many roles including Sunday School teacher and president of the Ladies Aid.  Celia was a nurse’s aide at Minnewaska Lutheran Home for many years.  It was a wonderful fit as she truly enjoyed the role of caregiver.            

Celia enjoyed baking (especially treats for her family), cooking, embroidering, reading, crossword puzzles, cards and games, and watching MN sports, especially the Twins.

Celia’s greatest joy was being in the company of family and friends.  She delighted when someone stopped by for “coffee and cookies.”  She always had fresh baked cookies on hand.  Celia had a wonderful sense of humor and was quick to laugh, especially when with her sisters. 

Celia passed away November 29, 2023, at Holly Ridge in Starbuck, Minnesota.  She was 104 years old!

Celia will be remembered for her love of her family and friends, her deep faith, her wonderful sense of humor, and her ever aware gratitude of the blessings God had granted her.           

She is survived by three children: Jeanne (Jim) Granley of Clearbrook, Ruth Ann Ohman (Don Secora) of Buffalo, and Mark (Jill) Heggestad of Arden Hills; grandchildren: Todd (Karen), Brian, Kari (Tom), Jay (Lacey), Jon, Taylor; great-grandchildren: Megan (Jon), Haley (Tristan), Cierra, Rylan, Ro; and great-great-grandchild: Gracie; and one sister: Joann Holten of Starbuck.  She was preceded in death by her husband: Melvin Heggestad; son: Donald Heggestad; her parents; brother: Arden and infant brother, David; and sisters: Arlene, Exilona, Dorothy, and Lorraine. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Indherred Lutheran Church or Glacial Ridge Hospice.

Starbuck Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements for Celia.