Todd Michael Kester
December 6, 1963 ~ January 7, 2023
Born in:
Rugby, North Dakota
Resided in:
Canandaigua, New York
On January 7th, 2023 Todd Michael Kester (59), a loving and devoted father, passed away unexpectedly in Canandaigua, NY.
Todd was born in Rugby, ND on December 6th, 1963. He grew up in Fargo, ND and graduated from Fargo South High School. He was a talented athlete who loved playing sports and received a tennis scholarship to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. He graduated from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque with a degree in History.
Todd held many titles in his life from judicial assistant to tennis pro, but his favorite role was being a father. He loved nothing more than spending time with his daughter. He was always focused on her and took such joy in all her accomplishments and supporting his daughter in every way he could. He was also passionate about boating and loved spending time on the water, especially with his family and friends.
Todd will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his daughter Isabella of Canandaigua, NY; mother Janice Kester of Fargo, ND; brother Troy of Minneapolis, MN; sister Julie (Bill) Miller of Kansas City, MO; niece Ellen Kester and nephew Jonah Kester, both of Minneapolis.
Todd was preceded in death by his grandparents, father Michael (Mick) Kester and daughter Alexandria Diane Kester.
Please join us in honoring Todd’s life at 2pm on February 4th at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center Fargo ND. Reception to follow.
Services
Funeral Service - Saturday: February 4, 2023 2:00 pm
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
7012376441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
Visitation - Saturday: February 4, 2023 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
7012376441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
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Jan
I am so sorry for the loss of your son Todd.
Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
Clay Whittlesey
I am so very sorry for your loss.
Much too young but I guess God needed him more.
Many thoughts and prayers to all of you!
A 1982 Classmate ,
Rest in Peace Todd!
Watch over that beautiful daughter and I will miss all your Facebook posts about her and the awesome job you were doing raising her!
God Bless,
Rhonda Swenson Bormann
FSH Class of 1982
Jan, Troy, Julie and Kester family, I am so sorry for your loss. Todd and I remained good friends since our days at Clara Barton more than 50 years ago. We enjoyed many hours on the basketball and tennis courts up to and including our days at UND. He was a gifted athlete. He was a loyal friend. I think his greatest role was as a dedicated and caring dad. I just talked to him last month as we shared stories about our kids. I am not sure which of us was more proud to be a dad.
Thinking of you all and wishing you the best.
Greg Gullickson
Thanks for the kind words and attending the service. It was such a comfort to the family.
Jan, Troy, Julie…and all your families…my heart hurts for all of you! I can not imagine all the pain you are experiencing…I have so many memories of grade school, Jr high and high school years with Todd, walking to school, hitting the tennis ball against the waterworks garage door, kick the can, kickball across the street…all the messages across the drive way into each others kitchen windows! You are and always will be family friends, holding special places forever in my heart…Prayers and huge, huge hugs!!♥️ krissy
I am so thankful you, Jenni and your parents could attend the service for my brother Todd. So many great memories growing up as neighbors. xoxo
Jan, Troy, Julie, and all your families, words feel insufficient, but I offer them anyway hoping that prayers, words and memories will give you some small comfort in your (our) loss. Growing up next door, from grade school and on, I can’t remember a time without the Kester / LaCroix family in my life. Reading the other messages here bring back floods of so many good memories. In my mind, like it was yesterday, I can still hear the particular sound made when he (relentlessly) sharpened his tennis skills against that rolling metal garage door across the street. It was Todd, and his drive, who (involving that same garage) figured out a way to climb / jump onto the roof of the waterworks (helping his non-athletic friend get there too, to share the achievement). I’m pretty sure parkour was not a “thing” in the 70’s – he was truly ahead of his time.
My heart and prayers go out to you all,
Shawn
I have to admit I didn’t recognize you immediately but memories flooded in once I figured it out. 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing memories and being there.
Jan and entire Kestor families and Lacroix families, I can only imagine the pain and sorrow that your hearts are going through after this most agonizing loss of Todd. I’m in shock and I really don’t even know what to say but I know you loved him dearly and that’s what really matters. I know he felt that love. May God comfort you now and in the future and may He guide you towards peace. Much love and continued prayers for all of you.
My memories of Todd and family are from Nativity Church…every Sunday we all sat in the same spots and they were in the front row by the choir and are family would be across from them. I had a crush on Todd for years. His memory page sounds like he was a great person and will be missed by many. RIP Todd
Mrs Kester and the whole Kester family, I am very sorry for your loss. Todd was a big part of my childhood especially over the summers during his baseball days. Todd bailed me out many a game with his reliable hands and quick feet at shortstop. He always batted at the top of lineup because his ability to get things started. He was competitive, talented and just a driven personality. He was also smart and curious. He was very good at many sports but eventually choose tennis. Which provided him a lifetime of passion.
Thinking of Todd, diving to stop a base hit up the middle.
Dear Jan, Troy and Julie; What a shock to hear of Todd’s passing.
He was a wonderful student of mine at Agassiz Middle School as
well a a gifted athlete.
Our prayers are with you Jan, Troy and Julie.
Jan and Family, I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve got so many great memories with Todd. We spent many hours together on or around tennis courts! Todd was a super doubles partner and a good friend. In recent years, it has been a real joy to watch all of the pictures Todd posted of his beloved daughter. I wish all of you peace as we remember Todd.
Thank you for all your help and kind words at the service. I hope you got your name tag back. 🙂
Jan, Troy and Julie,
So sorry to read about Todd’s passing. I have fond memories of all the Kester’s over the years at Agassiz and South. My thoughts and prayers are for Todd and with all of you. May he rest in peace.
Oh Jan, Troy, Julie and all, my heart aches for you all as you suffer the loss of Todd: son, brother and father. I hold you in my thoughts and prayers.
Jan, on behalf of my family, we send our condolences and sympathies on Todd’s passing. Thinking of all of you during this difficult time.
Jan Harrison and Lisa Harrison Johnson (classmate of Todd’s)
Words cannot express how sad we are to hear of Todd’s passing. May all your beautiful memories bring you comfort during this difficult time.
(I was a classmate of Todd’s from Clara Barton Elementary through Fargo South High School.)
Jan, Julie,Troy and families,
Sending our deepest sympathies! Although we did not have the privilege of meeting Todd, I am sure he was a good man, born to a great family. Know that your family and friends are here to support you and send our love.
I was saddened to hear about Todd’s passing. While I have not seen Todd since our high school days at Fargo South he remains a large part of my memory of those formative years. He quickly became one of my first friends when I moved to Fargo from the Twin Cities in 9th grade. We played countless hours of tennis and spent a great deal of time in each other’s basements watching shows like Saturday Night Live and trying to be as wise ass, witty and philosophical about our own high school lives. He was adventurous, spirited, passionate and competitive but mostly I remember him as being a loyal and reliable friend not to mention the quickest and most fierce doubles partner I have ever had the privilege of playing with. My thoughts and prayers are with you today and may Todd’s memory always be a source of love and strength.
All Kesters and loved ones:
I just found out this news and am so sorry for our loss and for this terribly late reply. Todd was one of my best friends in college and in life.
He lit up every room he was in and every person he encountered. We met first day we moved into the dorms at NMSU and I knew we would be fast friends forever.
He was the funniest, dynamic and in many ways real person I’ve ever known.
We unfortunately lost touch over some years but I loved the man, and I love him still. He was intelligent, kind, loving, funny and real, all at the same time.
I’m devastated to learn of his loss. And my sympathies to his entire family. He was undeniably a very bright candle and I’m devastated by his loss as I know all are who really knew him.
Rest in peace Todd.
-Quin