Esther Simonitsch

Esther E. Simonitsch, age 88 of Grey Eagle, died on Saturday, April 24, 2004 at Lake Ridge Rehabilitation Center in Roseville, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 27 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle. Rev. Arlie Sowada and Rev. Dick McGuire will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle. Parish prayers will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday evening at the church.

Esther Simonitsch was born on April 17, 1916 in Long Prairie, Minnesota to William and Emma (Zelgert) Becker. On January 31, 1940 she was united in marriage to Walter Simonitsch at Our Lady of the Redeemer Catholic Church in Highland Park, Minnesota. The couple farmed near Grey Eagle until Walter's death on September 1, 1964. In 1965 she began working as a housekeeper for Fr. Joseph Fridgen. They worked at parishes in St. Francis, Fergus Falls, Osakis and Grey Eagle, until his death on August 14, 1997. She retired in Grey Eagle. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle and the Christian Mothers in Grey Eagle and Osakis.Esther enjoyed traveling, bowling and gardening and she especially loved people and politics.

She is survived by two children, Shirley (Ed) Hollenkamp of Roseville and Michael (Betty) Simonitsch of Ekalaka, Montana; two grandchildren; six great grandchildren; sister, Bertha Schmidt of Grey Eagle.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Walter; brothers, William, Jake, Edward and Fred Becker; sisters, Elsie and Alma Stueck and Eva Becker.

Serving as casket bearers will be Bernie Kreemer, Lester Berscheit, Jerry Klimeck, Wayne Fridgen, Jim Becker. Cross bearer will be Debbie Narusiewicz and scripture bearer will be Jim Hollenkamp. Honorary bearers will be Marlene Kreemer, Barb Decann, Joyce Klimeck, Isabelle Sobiack, Alvina Call, Dorothy Berscheit and Rita Schiller.