Esther I. Stromire

Esther Irene Stromire passed away peacefully on August 11, 2017. She was 98.

Esther was born the fourth of nine children to Jacob Bertsch and Katherine Dewald August 16, 1918 at McIntosh, South Dakota. Her parents started homesteading on the Indian Reservation in 1912.  Esther went to a one-room schoolhouse through the eight grade, walking a mile and a half unless weather was too bad then they would get a ride in a sleigh.  She then moved to McIntosh where she worked for her board and room until she graduated from high school in June 1936.

Her family moved to Rupert, Idaho in September 1936. In July 1938, she married George Stromire.   They lived in Idaho except for short periods early in their marriage when George worked in a coal mine in Centerville, Iowa and later in Vancouver, Washington where George work in the ship yards.

While growing up in South Dakota, Esther developed a love of horses and remembers her dad always having good horses that he had received in trade from the Native Americans. Later in life her and George raised appaloosa horses on their farm in the Jackson area.  Esther and George also loved to hunt and fish.  She would shoot her own deer and then help pack it back to camp. 

She was independent and lived by herself until she was 98. Esther loved to bake and cook German food and was extremely good at it.  When she could no longer prepare the large family meals, she insisted on making the pies.  She also did a lot of quilting and made quilts for each grandchild. She enjoyed reading and doing a daily crossword puzzle to keep “her mind sharp”. Esther enjoyed playing completive games of scrabble and pinochle with family members.

She taught her children and grandchildren the value of strong work ethics and education. Esther treasured her family and loved being a good friend. 

Esther is survived by her son Mert Stromire, daughter Glenda York, son Terry Stromire, 9 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and 25 great great grandchildren as well as brothers Ruben and Delbert and sister Edna. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband George, son Gerald, daughter-in-law Patricia Stromire, daughter-in-law Karen Stromire, granddaughter Leslie Moore, great grandson Micheal Adams, brothers Alvin and Milbert, and sisters Hilda and Alma.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Mountain View Christian Center, 317 Mountain View Lane, Burley, Idaho 83318.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 19, 2017 at Morrison Funeral Home, 188 South Highway 24, Rupert, Idaho. Services will conclude with burial in the Paul Cemetery.

Funeral: Saturday Aug 19 2017

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