Esther Marian Billstein
Esther Marian Billstein was born on November 16, 1917 in
Jamestown, North Dakota. She was the first child of Elmer and
Adeline Augusta Koehn Frey and the loving older sister to
Norman, Margaret and Ken. She grew up on the Frey Farm in Bloom
Township where her grandfather was the original homesteader. She
was pretty, intelligent and understood the duties of
responsibility, hard work and being an example to others.
After graduating high school she moved to Fargo, North Dakota
where she attended a business training school and held several
government jobs. She met her husband Louie Billstein in
Jamestown and she married him on January 1, 1939 and lived in
Fargo until 1943 when they moved to Billings after Louie's
discharge from the Army.
They immediately started a family with son Rick born in October
of 1944 and son Ron born in May of 1947. Louie was in the auto
body repair business and finances were always tight. Esther
assisted by providing child home care services when her boys
were small and then worked for decades as a bookkeeper for
Willis Sales Company. She also managed an adjacent trailer
court. She lost her husband to cancer in 1979. She worked well
into her 70's because she wanted to be productive and
independent. She rented the other side of her duplex to young
women for over 20 years and became a loved friend and advisor.
Christmas cards continue to come in each year from these ladies.
What a testament!
She was a woman of faith. She belonged to Bethlehem Lutheran
Church all of her life in Billings and was very active in church
activities. She served in the choir and was the church financial
accountant for decades. She was always involved in church
improvement projects.
In every family there is a person who uses personal example and
sacrifice to change the course of future generations. Esther was
from a family where no one had gone to college. Her father and
brothers were successful farmers but she understood the value of
education and how the lack of a degree limited her
opportunities.
She made her sons believe that every opportunity was available
to them and that they were special in spite of their economic
circumstances. They could control their work ethic and their personal choices. Fortunately they had her
intelligence skills and work ethic. She made it clear that
economics would not be a constraint or an excuse. She was also
insistent that everyone should have fun along the way! Sports
were a very important part of the Billstein family. Esther loved
to bowl and every Tuesday night she participated in her bowling
league. She helped build the baseball parks on Central Avenue
and never missed any of her sons' games.
One son got his PHD and became a university mathematics
professor and has published multiple text books. The other son
got a Masters Degree in Engineering and became an owner in a
successful private engineering firm. Both sons are in the
Montana baseball Hall Of Fame. The grandchildren all graduated
from college and have advanced degrees. They practice in
medicine, law and business. One was Junior Miss Montana. The
sons were intelligent enough to choose wives who had the
qualities of their mother and built great families.
Esther was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease just when she
decided to retire. She needed to move into a retirement home and
was only able to live on her own for a few years before moving
to Eunice's Private Care in Billings where she received loving
care. Was she bitter at her fate and did her cheerful
disposition change over the last difficult final years of her
life? Not a chance! She was forever telling others at the home
how proud she was of her children and grandchildren and that she
would not question God's plan for her life. She did long for her
heavenly father to take her home and now He has. We would like
to thank all those from Rocky Mountain Hospice. Their care was
greatly appreciated.
She did not fully appreciate what all of us realized. God only
chooses and trusts special people to persevere through extended
sufferings. They are imitators of Christ. They express their
love through sacrifice and are an example of the way we are to
live for the sake of others. Death has no sting for this family
for we know that she is with her Lord in heaven.
Esther is survived by her brother Ken Frey (Jamestown, North
Dakota), son Rick (Jane) of Missoula and son Ron (Mary Beth) of
Billings. Her grandchildren are Josh of Seattle, Andrew (Jennelle)
of Billings, Molly (Jeremy) of New Haven, CT and Karly (Sam) of
Seattle.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Interfaith Hospitality Network at Bethlehem Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice.
Memorial services will be 10:00AM Saturday, October 30, 2010 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Remembrances
Please leave your name and remembrance in this public guest book. Your comments will be shared on this page and forwarded to the family.
Esther my
neighbor on Florine Ln for many years. I was just a child then. But have
always remembered her and loved her every day of my life. Small things I
would notice or do would remind me of Esther. I remember her washing her
car in BIG rubber rain boots on the roof just a’scrubbin’ away. She was
a crack up. First time I ever used an old rotary phone was in her
duplex, first time I ever ate Bugle crackers was at her duplex. Again, I
was just a girl. I remember taking her to Goodies for Grandparents in
the 4th grade. She was a sweet, sweet lady and apparently lived one
helluva life! She will be deeply missed by my family and myself. Our
thoughts are with you.
Amanda Coulter
Hi
Rick & Ron,
The loss of a parent is a tuff one, as you both already know. But
even a bigger loss after the surviving spouse passes on. And to make
matters all the more difficult to endure is when the loss is of
someone as beautiful as your Mother. She does sound like a very
treasured Mother.
Bill & Kathleen (Walsh) LaMeres
Ron,
Mary Beth and family:
What a wonderful story to read of your mother’s life! I was inspired
by the many loving tributes that were written in her obituary. May
we all be so loved and appreciated! Please know that Tom and I send
our prayers and thoughts. With certainty we know that she has
already been welcomed into the arms of the Lord – halleluia!
Cathy Ritter