Etta Vern Dolder was born Jan 2, 1902 near Sheridan, LaSalle county, Illinois, the fifth child of Louis Emile Dolder and Anna Clara Ulrich. When she was one year old, she along with her brother and three sisters and parents, moved to Pioneer, Iowa. Etta was raised and educated there.

On Sep 26, 1923, she was united in marriage to Horace Frederick Hesser in Humboldt, Iowa. The couple lived in Fort Dodge and Humboldt, Iowa during the first years of their marriage. In 1936, they moved to a farm near Cosmos, Minnesota. In 1951 they moved into Cosmos where they operated the Hesser Hardware store.

Etta was a dedicated church member at both the Spring Grove and Cosmos Methodist churches and was a charter member of the Cosmos United Methodist church.

Etta passed away on Thursday, Apr 30, 1981 at the Cosmos Health Care Center after an extended illness. She attained the age of 79 years, three months and 28 days. She is buried in Cosmos Community cemetery.