ESTHER KATHERINE BYMERS

Esther Bymers, 82 of New Rockford formerly of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Monday, March 10, 2014 at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford, ND  Funeral Services for Esther will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Devils Lake on Saturday, 15, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Lori Broschat officiating.   Music will be provided by Lori Broschat, vocalist and Lynda Pearson, organist.  Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday, March 14th from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday at the church beginning at 1:00 p.m.  Esther Katherine, daughter of Matthew and Norah (Williams) Maier was born on June 30, 1931 in Arvilla, ND. She attended school in Arvilla until 1940 when the family moved to Grand Forks, ND. She then attended Roosevelt and Winship Elementary and South Junior High. She was always determined to graduate from high school and with much determination and hard work, she proudly earned her GED Certificate. She always helped out in the home and also held part time jobs while living in Grand Forks. She enjoyed roller skating and dancing.  As a young woman, Esther moved to Great Falls, MT. She worked in several places in Great Falls over the years she lived there. She married Lavern Feldt in 1950 and to this union seven children were born. She was a dedicated mother and proud of her family.  In 1966, Esther married Ivan Skinner and to this union one child was born. Again she devoted her time and attention to her husband and children. Esther worked for the Head Start Program in Great Falls, MT for twenty-three years as a cook. Ivan died in Great Falls on December 20, 1995.  Esther moved to Devils Lake in 1996 to be near her mother and three sisters. She was united in marriage to Lyle R. Carter in Devils Lake on December 12, 1996 and he passed away on March 5, 2004. Esther was a member of First United Methodist Church of Devils Lake and was active at the Senior Center. She loved giving and receiving hugs and she had a big heart and a beautiful smile and was a hard worker. She loved to bake and share her baked goods and was crowned “Queen of Caramel Rolls” by Goodyear Tire. She enjoyed crafts, crocheting, gardening, canning and freezing, spending time with horses, listening to Country Western music, dancing and drinking cold coffee with her self rolled cigarettes.   Esther married Bergeth “Buz” Bymers in Devils Lake on June 30, 2007 and they spent nearly seven happy, busy years together as a married couple. Due to failing health, Esther lived for a time at the Maple View Memory Care Community in Grand Forks, ND and the Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake. Since August of 2013, Esther has made the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford her home. Buz also moved to New Rockford to be close to Esther and continues to live there. A special thanks to the staff at Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd and Hospice for their care these last months and weeks. Appreciation is expressed to Jim and Elaine for moving back to Devils Lake to help Esther and Buz. Also special thanks to Sheryl and Roy James, who were our “angels” these past months and weeks. God bless the memory of Esther Katherine Bymers. She will be deeply missed. She is survived by her beloved husband Bergeth “Buz” Bymers; children Charles Feldt, Spokane, WA, James (fiancé Elaine Pavek) Feldt, Devils Lake, Sandra Terry, Los Angeles, CA, Teresa Waite, Great Falls, MT, Brenda (Ken) Kantorowizc, Billings, MT, Cindy (Bob) Gordon, Little Valley, CA and Daniel Skinner, Deere Lodge, MT; step children Roy Bymers, Sparks, NV and Betty Steele, Fresno, CA; sixteen grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; four step grandchildren; sisters Barbara (Palmer) Walden and Donna Hagen both of Devils Lake; sisters-in-law Corrine Carrol, Arlys (Richard) Allums and Viola Hardy; aunt Barbara Jenson, Elmau, OR; uncle Donald Williams, Mentor, MN; several nieces, nephews and cousins and special niece Sheryl and Roy James; beloved poodle companion Scotty; Esther was preceded in death by her parents Matthew Maier and Norah Slupe; step father Oliver Slupe; husbands Lavern Feldt, Ivan Skinner and Lyle Carter; children an infant son and son Lavern Feldt Jr.; sisters Alice Stenberg and LaVern Larson and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and several aunts, uncles and cousins.