Funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM on Thursday, September 1, 2011 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plummer, MN with Rev. Jonathan Dodson officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Red Lake Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM on Thursday at the church.

Esther Mae (Purath) Walter was born on May 10 ^th , 1918 in Red Lake Falls, MN. Her parents were Fred and Emma Purath. There were six children in her family: Esther, Russell, Ernest, Willard, Darrell and Fern.

Esther attended grade school at the county school near the Purath farm. When it was time for her to attend high school, since there were no buses she had to stay in town in a house near the school with classmates. After graduating in 1936, she then attended Normal Training and one session in Moorhead to attain her teaching certificate which qualified her to teach in country schools.  She taught in one room schools in Plummer and Brooks for 4 years.

Esther married Herbert Walter on September 27, 1940 and they lived in Brooks and Plummer, MN. Their first child Ernest was born in 1941, and lived one day. They later moved to Oregon to work in a defense plant. After the World War II jobs became scarce, so they moved back to Plummer with their 3 children in 1946 and purchased a farm. They raised 9 children on their dairy and grain farm. They moved to Plummer in 1981 and they live there until Esther went to Hillcrest Nursing home in Red Lake Falls in 2005.  She moved to Memory Care Center at Valley Home in 2008 in Thief River Falls, MN, until recently was moved to Pioneer Memorial Care Center.

Esther never did actual farm work. She kept more than busy in the home taking care of their nine children. She did have charge of the chickens and the garden. She was an active leader in the Happy Go Lucky 4H club. She taught Sunday School at the First Presbyterian Church in Plummer.  After moving to town she occupied her time with crafts, making quilts, reading, puzzles, church projects, family genealogy records. She was active at the Plummer Senior Center and the Women's Legion Auxiliary. Her passion was reading biographies and historical books and aspired to be a librarian.

Esther and Herb have nine children, June (Jim) Smith of Hugo, MN, Iona Markley of Buffalo, MN, Marvin (Sandra) of Detroit Lakes, MN, Ray (Reinette) of Plummer, Duane of Plummer, Barb Pinc of Plummer, Marilyn (Gene) Budraitis of Luverne, AL, Roger (Janel) of Plummer, David (Gail) of Rush City, MN.  They have 25 Grandchildren, and 23 Great Grandchildren.

Esther is preceded in death by her husband (Herbert), son (Ernest), parents, and brother's (Russell and Willard).

Esther Walter of Plummer, MN died Friday, August 26 ^th , 2011 at Pioneer Memorial Care Center at the age of 93 years, 3 months and 16 days. May her memory be blessed.