Mrs. Estella Troke was born in rural Clarkfield, Minnesota, October 25, 1891, the daughter of Jacob Ralston and Emelie Ann (Heimark) Ralston. She died March 2, 1974, at the Clarkfield Hospital at the age of 82. At the age of four, Mrs. Troke moved with her parents to the farm two miles north of Clarkfield which for many years was known as the Ralston Farm. She graduated from the Clarkfield High School in 1910 as Salutatorian of her class, and then attended John Fletcher College of Oskaloosa, Iowa for the following year. She then took a summer course in teaching in Montevideo, Minnesota, and then the next two years taught rural school in the Clarkfield area. In the spring of the second year, she traveled to Montana and taught a summer school and continued there for two additional years. On September 11, 1915, she was united in marriage to James Allen Troke. To this union were born three children: Robert of Encino, California, Ronald of Costa Mesa, California, and Thressa. In 1921, Mrs. Troke returned to college and graduated from St. Cloud State College in 1923. That fall she took an elementary position in Clarkfield, which she filled until she retired in 1960, having finished 37 years of teaching in her home town and having taught almost 43 years in total. Mrs. Troke was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James; one brother, Elmer of Duluth, Minnesota; and her daughter, Thressa in May 1972. She is survived by her sons, Robert and Ronald; a son-in-law, Samuel N. Peterson of Minneapolis; ten grandchildren, four of whom live in the Minneapolis area and six in California; six great grandchildren, five of whom live in the Minneapolis area, and one in California; one brother, Harvey of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and a sister Sarah, living in New York. Mrs. Troke was active in many of the affairs of the Methodist Church for many years, the Future Teachers Club at the High School, which was named in her honor. She worked for many years with the Christmas Seal program in the local area. After her retirement in 1960, whe was active in the W.C.T.U., in the Hospital Auxiliary, and in the local Garden Club. Funeral services were held last Tuesday, March 5, 1974, at Clarkfield United Methodist Church. Rev. James Thomson officiated at the services. Organist was Mrs. Harry Edmunds and vocal music was furnished by Mrs. Myron Friberg and Mrs. Johnny Sturgeon. Casket Bearers were Sylvan Anderson, Ray Mauland, Duane McCoy, Richard Petersen, Harold Smith and Keith Stroup. Burial was in Clarkfield City Cemetery. Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota