Memorial services for Esther M. DeWall, 79, of McLaughlin will be at 11 AM MT, Saturday, December 7, 2019, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in McLaughlin. Inurnment will be at a later date at Black Hills National Cemetery. Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge is in charge of arrangements.

Esther Marie Nielsen, born in Horicon, WI on March 15, 1940 to Constance Adeline (Sparlund) and Knud Nielsen. Esther passed away with family at her side on November 29th, 2019 after a courageous battle with Leukemia at Mobridge Regional Hospital in Mobridge, SD.

She attended and graduated from high school in New England, ND. During her childhood days she accompanied her parents on many construction jobs throughout North Dakota. While on one of the construction jobs she met her future husband, Harry DeWall.

Esther and Harry were married on August 15, 1958 in a ceremony performed by the justice of peace in the new courthouse in Casselton, North Dakota. It was supposed to be a private ceremony but unbeknownst to them it made the front page of the local newspaper. Their wedding was the first one in the new courthouse.

After construction season they eventually settled in New England, North Dakota. Esther worked as a bookkeeper at the local Red Owl grocery store where Harry worked as the butcher/meat cutter. While in New England, Esther and Harry had 4 children, Raymond, Judy, Tammy and Lois.

In March of 1964 they moved to McLaughlin, South Dakota where Bill was born in 1968. They also had one stillborn daughter in 1967.

Esther became the bookkeeper at the local Farmers Union Oil Company, where she worked for 35 years. While at the Farmers Union Oil Company she made many special friends and had many great co-workers.

She was very active in the Redeemer Lutheran Church hosting Bible studies and President of the ladies' group and also a member of the church council. Esther was a very devout Christian.

She was also a member of the Post 121 American Legion Auxiliary where she has spent the past several years as the President.

She had a special place in her heart for the McLaughlin Senior citizens and loved being there getting a "Great Meal" and playing cards and putting puzzles together. She never wanted to be Harry's card partner though; he took his card playing pretty serious and let you know if you played the wrong card.

She and her late husband Harry enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren at their special events. They loved traveling to see their grandchildren and children and looked forward to warmer weather so they could visit. She also loved traveling to visit her sisters.

Esther is survived by her children: Raymond (Lisa) DeWall, Judy DeWall, Tammy (Keenan) Miller, Lois (Mike) Buechler, Bill (Angie) DeWall; grandchildren: Jason Martinson, Christopher (Jenn) DeWall, Justin (Cheyenne) Relaford, Michael DeWall, Kevin Relaford, Melissa DeWall, Zach Buechler, Mackenzie Buechler, Jacquelyn DeWall, Janessa DeWall, and Jadynn DeWall, Jayson Running Hawk; great-grandsons: Jaden and Logan Relaford; sister Margaret [Peg] (Bob) Bechtold and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Harry; one daughter; a grandson Ryan Martinson; sisters Mae Lois Nielsen and Ruth Briske and brother Charles Nielsen.