Esther DeForth

Esther M. DeForth, age 94, of St. Paul Park, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, September 22, 2015.

Esther was born in Canby, Minnesota to Alfred and Mabel Wiuff, the oldest of five children. The family moved to Red Rock Campgrounds in Newport, Minnesota in 1936. She graduated from Park High in 1940, attended Globe Business College, and then enlisted in the US Navy as a Wave in 1943, stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago.

Esther was married at the home of her parents in Newport to Marlyn DeForth on October 9, 1943. She was honorably discharged from the Navy with a ranking of Yeoman Second Class in 1944. She and Marlyn settled in the DeForth family home at 700 Hastings Avenue, St. Paul Park, where they lived for 52 years. Following Marlyn's death in 1995 the home place was sold; Esther resided in Cottage Grove the remainder of her days.

Esther and Marlyn were the parents of four daughters. Esther was a stay-at-home mom while she raised her daughters, and when her oldest three daughters were off to college and/or married, Esther worked at the Montgomery Ward catalog store in Cottage Grove. She was a woman who seldom rested. The tasks done by her were always done with a loving hand: cooking, baking, mending, laundry, sewing, gardening, canning, and more. Esther was a skilled seamstress, sewing clothing for her daughters from the time they were babies until they left home. She enjoyed doing handwork: embroidery, knitting, crocheting. She hand quilted many, many beautiful Christmas tree skirts for her family and friends.

Esther came to a personal faith in her God on June 27, 1937 at the Red Rock Park Camp Meeting in Newport, Minnesota. She wrote in her Bible at the time: "It is a wonderful feeling to know that I can trust and believe in God, to know He will help in all my troubles," referencing Psalms 91:1. Her faith grew over the next 78 years and carried her through each day. She was a charter member of Park Baptist Church, where she served faithfully in many capacities, including many years as a pre-school Sunday School teacher, which was her joy. At the time of her passing, she was a member of Hope Community Church in Cottage Grove.

Esther was the hub of her family; hosting Christmas for her family every year at her home in Cottage Grove. A Wednesday morning Bible study was held in her home from 1996 until 2013, where the ladies were welcomed warmly and lovingly, gathering to study God's word. She was an active member of Red Hats and Keenagers for several years. Her warm smile and loving ways will be keenly missed by all who knew and loved her. Now she rests peacefully in the arms of her Savior.

Preceded in death by husband, Marlyn; granddaughter, Terri Van Buskirk; and sister, Delores Nestrud. Survived by daughters, Dorothy (Les) Gentry, Marilyn DeForth, Beverly (Gene) Van Buskirk, and Mary Lou (Gary) Hosler; 7 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; sisters, Avis Kriebel and Joyce Strege; and brother, Jarvis (Mildred) Wiuff; special friend, Dave Sheldahl; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation 4-7 PM, Sunday, September 27, 2015 at Kok Funeral Home, 1201 Portland Avenue, St. Paul Park, MN, 55071 and continues at 12:30 PM at church, Monday. Funeral Service 1:30 PM, Monday, September 28, 2015 at Hope Community Church, 8300 Hyde Avenue, Cottage Grove, MN, 55016. Interment at Cottage Grove Cemetery.