To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the South Dakota Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in South Dakota, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 12/30/10 • Approved: 1/18/16 • Last Updated: 1/21/16 • R91558-G91557-S3
Luke 1918 - 2007
Esther Jan 29,1923 - Jan 16, 2016
Married Feb 4, 1956
Esther Heeren, age 92, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Canton, passed away Saturday, January 16, 2016. Esther Mae Lavonne Heeren was born on January 29, 1923 to John and Elsie (Aurit) Stengel. She attended rural country school near Canton. As a young woman, she worked for farm families in their homes. During the war, she worked at the Canton Creamery. After the war she worked at the Lew Doc Café where she met the love of her life, Luke Heeren. She married Luke on February 4, 1956 and they enjoyed 51 years together. The couple worked side by side at the Canton Greenhouse which they owned and operated until their retirement in 1978. During retirement, they enjoyed traveling throughout the United States. The love of her life passed away on March 28, 2007. Esther was a loving wife, mother, daughter, aunt, grandmother, and friend. She was a member of Canton Lutheran Church. She enjoyed helping others and served as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. She also enjoyed playing cards, painting angels, baking, and making teddy bears for her daughters and grandchildren. She loved spending time with her daughters and grandchildren. Grateful for sharing her life are her daughters, Colleen Roberts, Bismarck, ND and Penny (Alan) Thorson, Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, Mitch (Amber) Roberts, Mark (Amy) Roberts, Tim (Tracy) Roberts, Jeff Thorson, and Heidi Thorson; great-grandchildren, Crystal (Josh) Ova, Luke Roberts, Lexie Brendel, Elora (Kody) Pebbles, Jake Roberts, Ashlee Roberts, Josh Kindell, Hunter Kindell, Jeremy Kindell, Cadel Roberts, Alex Thorson, Caitlyn Thorson, Delaney Thorson, and Jacen Thorson; great-great-grandson, Asher Ova; brother-in-law, Art Ramse, Sioux Falls, SD; along with numerous other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Luke; her parents; sisters, Hazel Stensland, Helen Torberson, Irene Ness, and Opal Ramse; brothers, Lyle and Pete Stengel; an infant brother, and son-in-law, Kenneth Roberts
Contributed on 12/30/10 by revilo
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 91558