Esther Hawkins

Esther Lydia Hawkins, 92, passed away December 27, 2009, at Medcenter One Care Center, Mandan. Services will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Gary Bovkoon officiating. Spring Interment will be held in Gem Cemetery, Woodworth, ND, at a later date. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at Parkway Funeral Service. Esther was born February 20, 1917, at Medina, ND. She was the third child of Emmanuel “George” and Martha Ochsner. They lived in the hills southeast of Chase Lake. She attended country school in the area. Esther spent hours working at the family farm and also worked for others to help with the family income. During the Depression in 1936, the family moved to Ogema, MN, where Esther worked out to help the family. Esther still found time to attend and graduate from Ulen High School. After graduation Esther moved to Missoula, MT, where she became a beautician. She met her husband to be, Christian “Harold” Thompson at an old time dance, where he was playing fiddle and Esther danced a jig or two. They were married in July of 1943. After Harold returned from WWII, they moved to Woodworth, ND, where they took care of Harold’s dad and raised their four children, Audrey, Christi, Donna and Delbert. Esther was a member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church and taught Sunday School. Harold passed away in 1963, leaving Esther to raise her four children alone. Esther shared her cooking skills at many restaurants. Esther and Del moved to Jamestown the fall of 1969 where she worked at the Jamestown Hospital. It was there she met her future husband, John Hawkins, at a sledding party. They were married on August 31, 1970. John, Esther, and Del moved to Robinson, ND, where John worked on a farm. Later they moved back to Woodworth and lived by Barnes Lake. Esther cooked at a restaurant in Carrington and also at the State Hospital in Jamestown. When they retired, they moved to Pettibone, where Esther enjoyed her huge vegetable and flower gardens. They also raised and canned gigantic chickens and rabbits, plus all the vegetables she’d can. Esther also enjoyed selling Watkin Products; mostly so she could visit her friends and neighbors and share her wonderful baked goods. Esther never allowed anyone to go hungry. When John became ill losing a leg to diabetes, they then moved to Golden Manor Care Center at Steele. Esther lived for a brief time in an apartment and later joined John at the Nursing Home. When Golden Manor closed, Esther moved to Medcenter One Care Center in Mandan. While in the nursing homes, Esther brought many smiles to the staff and residents with her favorite songs; You are my Sunshine, The Barefoot Boy with Boots On, and many more. Esther had a hard life, but never forgot her friends and family. Once you were a friend, Esther never forgot you. She would keep in touch with people from 40 years ago. She was always there to help in any way. Esther loved entertaining and usually had a house full of people to feed. Esther loved music and loved to dance. Esther survived breast cancer and treatments, a stroke, took care of her father-in-law, lost two husbands, and raised four children on her own. Through everything, Esther, always had a smile on her face, and a song to sing. Esther’s heritage will continue with her children, Audrey Paul Geringer, Lake Williams, ND, Christi Guthmiller, Palermo, ND, Donna Duane Knudson, Elgin, ND, and Delbert Sylvia Thompson, Bismarck, ND; her 11 grandchildren and spouses, 14 great grandchildren and spouses and one great great-granddaughter; and her sister, Ruby Knob, Waubun, MN. Esther was preceded in death by her husbands, Harold and John; her parents, George and Martha Ochsner; three brothers, Albert, Edwin, and Alvin; and one sister, Ethel Nedberg.

Esther Hawkins

February 20, 1917 - December 27, 2009