Esther K Herr

Esther K. Herr, 97, Bismarck, passed away peacefully, with family at her side, on May 15, 2012, at St. Alexius Hospital. Esther's family is grateful to the staffs at the Baptist Home and St. Alexius Hospital for the loving and comforting care provided Esther. A memorial service celebrating Esther's life will be held at 11:00AM Thursday, May 24, at the Baptist Home Chapel. There will be no visitation prior to the service as Esther chose to donate her remains to the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. Esther was born February 24, 1915, in Turtle Lake, to John and Elizabeth Seibel Schlichenmayer, the fifth of eleven children. Esther was a graduate of Turtle Lake High School, Jamestown Teachers' College, and St.Alexius School of Nursing. Esther taught elementary school in Denhoff, rural Turtle Lake, and in Bismarck. Esther also worked as a Registered Nurse at St. Alexius Hospital and as the summer camp nurse at Camp Bentley. Esther married Arthur H. Herr on May 15, 1945. They raised their two sons, Richard and Michael, in Bismarck. Arthur died on June 9th, 1974. After Art's death, Esther moved to Laurel, Montana to live near her son Rick and his family. Health challenges in 1986 led her back to Bismarck and into the Baptist Home Apartments, which then became her home for over 20 years. Despite significant health issues, Esther gave generously of her time and her heart to Baptist Home residents, whoever needed assistance or companionship. Esther was recognized as the Baptist Home Volunteer of the Year in 2001. Throughout her life, Esther enjoyed cooking for family and friends in her home, and attending family gatherings and the Schlichenmayer and Herr family reunions. Esther was a superb cook. Her handwritten German family recipes and annotated cookbooks are treasured mementos. A patient and kind elementary teacher in her earlier years, Esther was also ever a student, and an avid reader. She loved her faith and God's word and participated in Bible Study classes until her death. As her strength declined, Esther herself became a resident in the Baptist Home in 2007. Esther continued to be of service to her community through her knitting, making countless scarves and caps for those in need. Esther also was proud to be a spokesperson for her home, the Baptist Home, in their television ads, and most recently, in promoting the Baptist Home's "Building on a Legacy" campaign drive for the new chapel. Grateful to have been a part of her life are her sons and their wives, Richard and Kathy Herr, of Laurel, Montana, and Michael and Maggie Belle Herr, of Bismarck; four granddaughters and their husbands, Melissa and Barry Valburg, Draper, SD, Kasey and Andrew Metzger, Fargo, ND, Kelly and Christopher Volk, American Fork, UT, Heather and Tony Kostelecky, Laurel, MT, and two grandsons, John Herr, Laurel, MT, Joseph and Jessica Herr, Billings, MT. A joyful part of Esther's life are nine great-grand children. Esther is survived by four siblings; two sisters, Marion Kirschman, Bottineau, ND, and Betty Anderson, Jamestown, ND; and two brothers, Rueben Vi Bismarck, and Texi Vera Riverton, WY; and many dear nieces and nephews. Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur; great grandson, Clarence Arthur Volk; daughter in-law, Suzie Herr; three sisters, Olga Reimer, Ann Kubler, and little sister Dorothy Schlichenmayer; and three brothers, Ferdinand, Richard, and Charles Schlichenmeyer. In lieu of flowers, Esther requested that her memorials may be given to the Baptist Home, New Chapel Legacy Fund, 1100 E Boulevard Avenue , Bismarck ND 58501.

Esther K Herr

February 24, 1915 - May 15, 2012