Esdulia Vigdahl, 96, Faribault
Esdulia (Lola) Cumpian Vigdahl, 96, of Faribault died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024.
She was born July 5, 1927, in Crystal City, Texas to Jessie Cumpian and Carmen (Trevino) Cumpian.
At the young age of 10 her mother died unexpectantly. Lola being the oldest, she helped her father raise the younger siblings. She had to end her formal grade school education in the second grade. One of her uncles and cousin assisted in helping teach Lola how to cook and care for the household. This enabled the family to not get separated into the state system and to allow her father to work and provide for the family. A few years later the family moved to Minnesota.
Lola started working weekends at Jean’s Cafe, owned by Jean Vigdahl, unknowingly her soon to be sister-in-law. Jean took a picture of her hard-working employee (Lola) and sent it to her brother Clarance, who was in the army over in the Philippians (WWII). He put that picture in his wallet. It was still in his wallet until his death in 2006. When he came home from the service they started dating, and soon thereafter were united in marriage on July 21, 1946, in Hayfield. Music and dancing (Lola in high heels) were always a part of their lives together. She also enjoyed traveling.
Clarance and Lola started their family with the birth of their son, Jerome and about a year later Carmella was born. For a short time, they moved to Texas but returned to Minnesota when an opportunity was given them to own and operate their own businesses. Clarance ran the lawn mower sales & repair shop and Lola operated the Vigdahl’s 218 Cafe for a span of 45 years. Later Lola would work in other restaurants, school kitchens, and was a Stanley Cleaning Products dealer for many years.
The family was associated with the Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Owatonna at the time of Clarance and Lola’s baptism as such in 1976 in Austin. Because Jehovah’s people are united earth wide, she was able to continue be an active member, even when she moved to Clear Lake, Iowa and later to the Prairie Creek Congregation in Faribault. She experienced much encouragement and joy by attending multiple assemblies and convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in many locations. She enjoyed sharing her faith and hope, engaging in a volunteer ministry based on God’s promises, as outlined in the Scriptures.
Lola is survived by her three children, Jerome (Sandy) Vigdahl of Faribault, Carmella Harthan of Burnsville, and Estelle (Terry) Wilkie of McGregor, Iowa, one sister Emma Mostrom of Mason City, Iowa, Barb Cumpian her sister-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Clarance Vigdahl, her parents, three brothers and one sister.
Memorial services will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2618 Park Ave., Faribault on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 at 1 p.m.
Boldt Funeral Home in Faribault is handling the arrangements. Learn more at www.Boldtfuneralhome.com.