Esther Gladys Spencer was born on June 25^th, 1917 on a farm near Blue Earth, Minnesota to Samuel and Elsie Amundson. She was the baby of the family, born after 5 boys: Clifford, Gaylord, Jesse, Sidney and Omer. Although she grew up fishing and enjoying the outdoors with all of her older brothers; she also grew up to love fashion, jewelry and playing cards.

Esther married Rollo Spencer on August 5, 1935 and together they had one daughter, Marilyn Jean. Esther worked for several years in the kitchen at the Watertown Hospital and retired from that job.  Esther and Rollo enjoyed traveling together and joining brother Cliff and his wife, Loretta on many fishing trips. Esther often regaled grandchildren and great grandchildren with stories of these trips.

After Rollo’s passing, Esther spent most of her winters in Cliff and Loretta’s company in Arizona. She moved to Omaha, Nebraska in the early ‘90s to be close to her daughter Marilyn and son-in-law Helmut.

Esther’s family and friends were blessed to have her for more than 100 years. She was known for her class and fashion sense. The women at Ralston House regarded her as the best dressed woman in the building and also a bonafide card shark.

Esther enjoyed shopping at local boutiques as she valued the personalized service they would offer. She loved seersucker, sparkly broaches, rings and jewelry. She also enjoyed baking and made the best date cake with caramel frosting. She kept African Violets growing on her window sills.

Esther passed away on October 21, 2017. She was preceded in death by her husband Rollo; daughter and son-in-law Marilyn and Helmut Hahn. She is survived by her grandchildren Bradley (Jaci), Kristine, Ronald, Gary (Sheryl) and Jess; great grandchildren Jeremy (Lindsey), Stacy (Jesse), Tena (Nannette), Jareece, Tony, Jayme (Drew), Raylee (Brittany), Madison and Michael; great great grandchildren Josephine, Jay’lon, Cade, Jack, Hank, Grant, Braden, Lorilei and Kobe.

A private family inurnment service was on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Watertown.