Obituary for Esther Alberta LeGrand
Esther Alberta LeGrand, 92, a longtime resident of Stillwater, passed away peacefully at home on March 29, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 3p.m. on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at Stillwater Bible Church with a reception following.
Alberta was born August 15, 1930, in Sweetwater, Oklahoma to Walter and Bessie Fourier. She was the oldest daughter of seven children: a brother, Kenneth, and five sisters: Loretta, Georgia, Ann, Sharon and Gail. Alberta graduated from Sweetwater High School as the Valedictorian of her class. She was captain and star player on the Sweetwater girls basketball team. Upon graduation of high school she continued her education at Sayre Junior College and married her most loyal and ardent supporter, Frank Edward LeGrand on January 14, 1948.
Ed and Alberta had a passion for education, so they decided to leave western Oklahoma to relocate to Stillwater where they fell in love with the town and university. Ed and Alberta made several other moves over the years as they started a family and continued their education, but Stillwater was always home and they were finally able to move back in 1963.
While raising five children, Alberta enrolled at OSU and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in what is now the Human Environmental Science Department. She was on the President's and Dean's Honor Rolls and graduated 4th in her class. Alberta was a member of Phi Upsilon Omicron, Omicron Nu, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Kappa Phi (top 10% of graduating seniors at OSU). She enjoyed teaching in Stillwater Public Schools for over 10 years and had a passion for motivating and inspiring her students.
She was a devoted and loving wife to Ed and an amazing, compassionate Mother to her children: Alan, Alane, Cora, Susan and Karen and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ed and Alberta both grew up in the country and enjoyed having a ranch, raising registered Gelbvieh Cattle in southwest Stillwater. The Oklahoma Governor's Conservation Award was presented to Ed and Alberta in 2001 and again in 2011.
One of Alberta's favorite pastimes was traveling and seeing the world. For their 25th Anniversary, Ed planned a huge surprise for Alberta. When the plane landed, Alberta was shocked and delighted to realize that we were celebrating the week in Hawaii! They shared a wonderful life together and celebrated 74 years of marriage.
She is survived by her husband Frank Edward LeGrand Ph.D.: son, Alan LeGrand and his wife Carolyn; daughter Alane LeGrand Ph.D.; Susan LeGrand Honska MBA; and daughter Karen Castonguay and her husband Perry; grandchildren: Tyler Castonguay, Bryce Castonguay his wife Chelsea and Kylie Gross and her husband Colin along with five great-grandchildren: Chisholm, Quinn and Callahan Castonguay and Elizabeth Kate and Emory Gross.
Alberta was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Bessie Fourier, daughter Cora LeGrand Ph.D., son-in-law Mark Honska M.D, brother Kenneth "Shorty" Fourier, and sisters Ann Spencer & Georgia Johnson. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Alberta was born August 15, 1930, in Sweetwater, Oklahoma to Walter and Bessie Fourier. She was the oldest daughter of seven children: a brother, Kenneth, and five sisters: Loretta, Georgia, Ann, Sharon and Gail. Alberta graduated from Sweetwater High School as the Valedictorian of her class. She was captain and star player on the Sweetwater girls basketball team. Upon graduation of high school she continued her education at Sayre Junior College and married her most loyal and ardent supporter, Frank Edward LeGrand on January 14, 1948.
Ed and Alberta had a passion for education, so they decided to leave western Oklahoma to relocate to Stillwater where they fell in love with the town and university. Ed and Alberta made several other moves over the years as they started a family and continued their education, but Stillwater was always home and they were finally able to move back in 1963.
While raising five children, Alberta enrolled at OSU and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in what is now the Human Environmental Science Department. She was on the President's and Dean's Honor Rolls and graduated 4th in her class. Alberta was a member of Phi Upsilon Omicron, Omicron Nu, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Kappa Phi (top 10% of graduating seniors at OSU). She enjoyed teaching in Stillwater Public Schools for over 10 years and had a passion for motivating and inspiring her students.
She was a devoted and loving wife to Ed and an amazing, compassionate Mother to her children: Alan, Alane, Cora, Susan and Karen and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ed and Alberta both grew up in the country and enjoyed having a ranch, raising registered Gelbvieh Cattle in southwest Stillwater. The Oklahoma Governor's Conservation Award was presented to Ed and Alberta in 2001 and again in 2011.
One of Alberta's favorite pastimes was traveling and seeing the world. For their 25th Anniversary, Ed planned a huge surprise for Alberta. When the plane landed, Alberta was shocked and delighted to realize that we were celebrating the week in Hawaii! They shared a wonderful life together and celebrated 74 years of marriage.
She is survived by her husband Frank Edward LeGrand Ph.D.: son, Alan LeGrand and his wife Carolyn; daughter Alane LeGrand Ph.D.; Susan LeGrand Honska MBA; and daughter Karen Castonguay and her husband Perry; grandchildren: Tyler Castonguay, Bryce Castonguay his wife Chelsea and Kylie Gross and her husband Colin along with five great-grandchildren: Chisholm, Quinn and Callahan Castonguay and Elizabeth Kate and Emory Gross.
Alberta was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Bessie Fourier, daughter Cora LeGrand Ph.D., son-in-law Mark Honska M.D, brother Kenneth "Shorty" Fourier, and sisters Ann Spencer & Georgia Johnson. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.