Esther Orth

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, at First Lutheran Church in Rugby, for Esther V. Orth, 94, who died Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the Chapel View Care Center in Hopkins, Minn.

Burial was in Persilla Watts Cemetery.

Esther was born Aug. 17, 1915 at home in rural Rolette County, a daughter of Carl Oscar and Milla (Lokken) Johnson. She was raised there and received her education at a rural school in Nanson. She married Orlan Orth on Aug. 1, 1944 in Plentywood, Mont. For most of their married lives, the couple made their home in Rugby. Orlan died May 21, 1966. After his death, she moved to Rolette and worked as the head cook and dietitian at the Rolette Community Hospital. She retired in 1978. For the past 12 1/2 years she lived in Minnesota near a son and a daughter.

She was a member of First Lutheran Church.

She is survived by one son, Larry of Minnetonka, Minn.; two daughters, Linda Cooper of Minot, and Eunice Peters of Chanhassen, Minn.; nine grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a step-son, Jerald Orth of Minot; a step-daughter, Elaine Erlandson of Sacramento, Calif.; two sisters-in-law, Margie Johnson of Auburn, Wash., and Delores Johnson of Rugby; a brother-in-law, Vernon Erickson of Minot; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband; three sisters, Alma Beaver, Mabel Braaten and Olive Erickson; ten brothers, Helmer, Leonard, Arthur, Melvin, Henry, Carl, Clarence, Albin, Edwin and Fred Johnson; and her parents.

Pastor Mike Pretzer officiated. Music was provided by Ken Moser, organist, Preston Moser, cellist, and Grayson Moser, violinist.

Casketbearers were Ryan Orth, Kelly Cooper, Jeff Cooper, Scott Peters, Bryan Peters and Jordan Cooper.

Arrangements by Anderson Funeral Home, Rugby.