Esther Vivian Anderson

Esther V. Anderson 86, of Rapids City formerly of Lyons passed away peacefully Thursday, January 11, 2007 at Fountain Springs Health Care in Rapid City, SD. Memorial services will begin at 10:00 AM Monday, January 15, 2007 at Benton Lutheran Church, rural Crooks. Burial will precede the services in the Benton Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 3-5:00 PM Sunday at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Baltic.

Esther Vivian was born May 5, 1920 to John and Marie Worwick on a farm west of Colton. She was baptized in St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church near there. The family moved to the Lyons area in 1923 and transferred membership to First Lutheran Church of Colton, where she was confirmed in 1934.
She went to the Lyons Consolidated School all 12 years and graduated in 1938 as salutatorian of her class. Due to her mother’s illness, she spent several years taking over household duties in the home and taking care of her mother.

On September 9, 1950 she was married to Paul M. Anderson and became a member of Benton Lutheran Church. She attended and served in Benton Lutheran Church as a Sunday school teacher, church council member, secretary, and Benton’s W.E.L.C.A president. She enjoyed helping make quilts for needy people and helping out at the “Banquet” in Sioux Falls. She worked for C.E.N.C.O.A.D. of Augustana College for a time and in 1970 joined the work force at Tri-Valley School kitchen and continued to work at various school jobs for 26 years.

She made three trips to Norway to visit relatives. Over the years she kept in contact with relatives and many friends by writing long newsy letters in both Norwegian and English. One of her greatest assets was that she was always able to persevere through anything with a great sense of humor. She will be missed by all.

Ester was preceded in death by her husband Paul in 1987, a sister Jenny (Lester) Fossum in 1988 and her parents. She is survived by her sister, Mary (Orlando) Fossum, Sioux Falls; her four children, Mark (Sandra) Anderson, Sioux Falls; Julie (Lennie) Symes, Rapid City; Joan (Dave) Fangrow, Aurora, CO; and Brian (Kim) Anderson, Pacsco, WA; as well as 10 grandchildren, Nick (Sharon) Anderson and Kristin (Steven) Kollis; Ian and Maren Symes; Sarah and Eric Fangrow; Melissa, Garrett, Daniel, and Jennifer Anderson; and a great grandchild, Annika Kollis.