Obituary: Esther Wolford

Funeral Services

Funeral services will take place on Monday, July 6, 2020 at 1:00 PM (Mountain).

United Methodist Church
Wall, South Dakota

Visitation

A come and go viewing will be held from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall.

Print Obituary

In memory of

Esther Wolford

of Wall, South Dakota, died on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 surrounded by family at Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City at the age of 94

Esther Marie Wolford was born at home in Walbridge, Ohio on April 30, 1926 to Ray and Coloma (Stein) Sigler. She was the fifth of six children. As a young girl, she worked in her father’s Red & White Grocery Store. She graduated from Walbridge High School in 1944.

Esther was united in marriage to Charles Hill on May 6, 1948 in Walbridge, Ohio. To this union three children were born: Brenda, Diane, and Carl. Charles lost his life in a tragic fire accident in 1957 while building their home. Esther raised her three children alone until she married Gerald Wolford on July 31, 1966. Gerald had four children: Cheryl, Rick, Perry, and Connie. To their union Amy was born three years later so now they had hers, his, and ours. Esther and Gerald made their home and resided in Walbridge until retiring and moving to Wall, South Dakota in 1998.

Esther was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandma, sister, aunt, and friend. She never had a bad word to say about anyone. She loved to visit and never met a stranger. She loved her family and enjoyed all the family get-togethers. She was proud of all her children and grandchildren and their accomplishments.

Esther enjoyed writing letters, sending cards, baking, and traveling. Her travels have taken her to all 50 states, multiple countries, and four continents, as well as going on seven cruises. Baking was her passion, and she will be remembered the most for her cut out sugar cookies that she baked for all the holidays and more. She would make over 600 cookies for each special day and give most of them away. You felt privileged to be on her “cookie” list. She also enjoyed baking Amish friendship breads to deliver to people on that “list”. Soon after moving to Wall, Esther and Gerald received the Good Neighbor Award from the Catalyst Club. They quickly became part of the community. Esther would make her famous cookies and breads, and Gerald would drive her around to deliver them.

Church was always an especially important part of Esther’s life. In Ohio, she was a faithful member of Grace United Methodist Church and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. After moving to Wall, she became a member of the Wall United Methodist Church. She always enjoyed being involved in church mission work.

Due to health issues, Esther and Gerald moved to Rapid City, South Dakota in April of 2018 where they lived until she gained her angel wings on June 30, 2020 at Monument Health Hospital surrounded by her family.

Survivors include her husband Gerald of 53 years of Rapid City; three daughters Brenda Carmichael of Wall, Diane (Norman) Geigle of Wall, and Amy (Terry) Beers of Howard, South Dakota; step-daughter Connie (Bret) Guthrie of Hickory, North Carolina; one son Carl (Jan) Hill of Rapid City; step-son Perry (Dana) Wolford of Hudson, Florida; 17 grandchildren: Janet, Angie, Marla, Sara, Joshua, Heidi, Whitney, Taylor, Ken, Ron, Rick, Holly, Dan, Penny, Deana, Jason, and Andrea; 41 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives, as well as kids that thought of her as “Grandma”.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Charles Hill; step-daughter Cheryl Burke; step-son Rick Wolford; son-in-law Lyle Carmichael; grandson-in-law Tony Venjohn; her parents Ray and Coloma Sigler; and five siblings: Virginia Blair, June Hanely, Naomi Patton, Wesley Sigler, and Kenneth Sigler.

A memorial will be established. Cards and memorials may be sent to 1050 Fairmont Blvd. #29 Rapid City, SD 57701.

A come and go viewing will be held from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 6, at the United Methodist Church in Wall. The funeral service will be livestreamed from this webpage if unable to attend in person.

Interment will follow at the Wall Cemetery.

COME AND GO VIEWING
Sunday, July 5, 2020 - 2-6 p.m.
Rush Funeral Chapel
Wall, South Dakota

FUNERAL SERVICE
Monday, July 6, 2020 - 1:00 p.m.
United Methodist Church
Wall, South Dakota

CLERGY
Pastor Jason Christensen

MUSIC
Carol Hahn - Pianist
Prelude
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
Congregational Hymns
“Amazing Grace” - “In The Garden”
“How Great Thou Art” - “It Is No Secret”
Postlude
“Jesus Loves Me”

USHERS
Wayne Davis - Jerry Johannesen

PALLBEARERS
Sara Jorgens - Joshua Geigle
Heidi Kopren - Janet Christensen
Angie Dunbar - Marla Venjohn - Roger Stevens

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends

INTERMENT
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota

Sign the guestbook

Such a friendly lady! Always enjoyed visiting with Esther at church. Our sympathy to all Esther's family. ~ Nancy and Rick Horton Wall (7/7/2020)
Grandpa, you are in our thoughts and prayers. ~ Ken, Karen & Keira Burke Columbus, Oh (7/6/2020)
My prayers are with you all. We know we will see her again. ~ Sue Eisenbraun Creighton,SD (7/6/2020)
Gerald & Family Our prayers and thoughts are with you. God Bless a wonderful lady we will all miss her. RIP Esther ~ Van & Cathy Simpfenderfer Wall, SD (7/6/2020)
Laurie Hindman ~ Laurie Hindman Wall (7/6/2020)
Sorry to hear of Esther's passing. My thoughts and prayers to your family. It was a pleasure getting to know Esther and Gerald over the last couple years! Esther was such a sweet lady! Gerald, take care of yourself! By the way, my Christmas cactus is thriving :) ~ Jessica Tvedt Rapid City, SD (7/6/2020)
Family of Esther Wolford, I am sorry to hear of her passing. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. ~ Andy Eisenbraun Rapid City (7/3/2020)
My deepest condolences to Gerald and the family what a wonderful person God has gained as an angel ~ Ron Mullholand Oak Harbor Ohio (7/2/2020)
Amy and Terry, you and your family have been in our thoughts and prayers. Hold onto those amazing memories and photos you have. Sending HUGS. Take care. ~ Vince, Steph, and Emmett Austerman Howard, SD (7/2/2020)
My Deepest Sympathy. Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. ~ Fawna (Geigle) Goff Sturgis, SD (7/2/2020)
Dear Amy, Our prayers and Sympathy to you and your family. Treasure and share the memories of times spent with your mom. ~ LaVona & Jack Kirkpatrick Hayes,SD (7/2/2020)
To Gerald, Brenda, Diane, Carl, and Amy - So sorry to hear about Aunt Esther. She was a wonderful person. She will be greatly missed
~ Love, Judith Hill Jamestown TN 38556 (7/2/2020)
You were a special and loved sister. Ken and I both loved you so much and I am comforted with the knowledge that Ken and you are in the shining glory of heaven. Your lovely smile brightens the heavens. I will miss you. Love Judy ~ Judy Sigler Walbridge, Oh (7/1/2020)
Our love and prayers go out to Diane, Norman , Brenda and Family. Denny & Susan. ~ Dennis & Susan Walsh Miami, Florida (7/1/2020)
Gerald and family
Saddened this morning to learn of Esther's passing. She was such kind and such a wonderful friend. Have missed them since leaving Wall. Love and prayers for all. ~ Veva Wernke Wall SD (7/1/2020)
Prayers for the family. We are sorry to hear of Esther's passing. Ruth always looked forward to her cookies.
~ Oliver & Gayle Carson Quinn,SD (7/1/2020)
Gerald- So sorry to hear of Esther's passing. May God be with you and your family.Love to all ~ Mary & Hank Buzza 108 clayton st.,Walbridge,oh 43465 (7/1/2020)
We are so sorry to hear of Esthers passing, she was a special lady. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. ~ Marv & Jeanne Botz Wall (7/1/2020)
So sorry to hear about Esther. We are sending love and prayers to you all. ~ Tom and Kamie Carmichael Oakland, Nebraska (7/1/2020)
We send our love and prayers to all of you during this difficult time. What a wonderful person Esther was, and I feel blessed to have known her. I can't help but feel she is healthy and whole again, and happily mixing up a batch of cookies! ~ Kent & Kelly Lurz Wall (6/30/2020)
We are so sorry to her of the passing of mom and wife. She will always be the cookie lady. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. ~ Darwin and Betty Wall (6/30/2020)