The funeral for Esther "Allene" VandenBurg, 80, Bloomington, MN, will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday at Hull Christian Reformed Church, Hull, ND. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the ND Veteran's Cemetery, Mandan, ND. She died Friday, April 8, 2011 in a Minneapolis Care Center. Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Myers Funeral Home, Linton, ND. Visitation wil continue one hour before time of service on Thursday at the church. Esther "Allene" (Millenaar) VandenBurg, 80, of Bloomington, MN, peacefully entered into everlasting life on April 8, 2011, at the Martin Luther Care Center. She was born on January 2, 1931 in Westfield, ND, the daughter of John and Alice (Vander Laan) Millenaar. Allene was a farmer's daughter living, northwest of Westfield. She attended the Bakker School for her eight years of education. Anyone, who was unable to attend high school after their grade school education, ought to be commended on getting their GED diploma, especially on their first try. Allene did just that. She also furthered her education at State Normal and Industrial Collage in Ellendale, ND. This enabled her to teach a rural school for four years, and then she worked as a billing clerk at Benson Opticians in Bismarck, ND. Then one night while roller skating at Westfield. Allene met Arlow VandenBurg, a farm employee in the Herreid area. This casual meeting turned into a love affair in the fall of 1954 and they were married on May 31, 1955. While on their honeymoon to Indiana, they decided to live there. Following this time they lived in various places. Allene worked at the courthouse in the welfare office in Lamoure, ND. Then later moved to Bozeman, MT, where she worked as a cook and salad cook at the 4 B's restaurant. Eventually returning to North Dakota, where Allene worked in the caf at the Bismarck Hospital. In April, 1977, she furthered her education at Capital Commercial College and later managed a Recording Studio, which they owned. When they retired, they moved to Hull, ND until Arlow's death on March 27, 2005. In May, 2005, do to her declining health, Allene moved to Martin Luther Campus in Bloomington, MN, to be closer to her three daughters. Allene enjoyed traveling with her husband and family, taking a month long vacation to California one year then 2 years later did a month long vacation to Indiana. Following retirement Allene and Arlow bought a fifth wheel trailer, and traveled to California in the winter. They also spent a month in El Golfo, Mexico in February of 2002. Allene loved spending time with her family and friends. She was a wonderful, caring, loving person who will be greatly missed. Allene had an enduring Faith in Christ and her daily prayer was the center of her spirituality. This strong faith was conveyed to her children and her grandchildren. Allene was an active member of the Bismarck Reformed Church, custodian, Bible and Sunday school teacher. Retired to Hull, ND, Allene was a member of the Hull Christian Reformed Church, and she was also a member of the Missionary Society there. Allene belonged to the Gideon Auxiliary and was president of the R.C.W. Allene enjoyed playing cards, dominos, bingo, singing and listening to music. She loved to embroider, sewing, gardening, and also enjoyed the spring season, when everything turns green and flowers begin to bloom. Allene's mother taught her to cook. She thought this was a good trait to pass along to her own daughters, which she did. She would take a hamburger, potato, carrot hotdish to carry-in dinners and prepared homemade spaghetti when the family comes home, as that is what they wanted. Allene loved to bake and cook. She also liked to make a big Thanksgiving dinner best of all, if you're lucky enough to be invited to their house for Thanksgiving dinner. Grateful to have shared her life are her three daughters and two sons-in-law: Janice and Daniel Peterson of Hillman, MN; Marcia and Gregory Haug of Eagan, MN; and Mary VandenBurg of Richfield, MN; two granddaughters, Ashley and Nicole Peterson; two sisters, Delma Dyk and Betty Payne of Strasburg, ND; nieces, nephews and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Arlow; two infant daughters; brother-in-law, Ivan Payne; and nephew, Louis Payne.