Esther Mae Folkerts

Memorial Service for Esther Folkerts will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at the Family Life Church, Gillette, WY. Celebrants will be Pastor Marty Crump of the Family Life Church and Pastor Matthew Melton of the First Baptist Church. Esther Folkerts age 71, passed away October 20, 2010 at Campbell County Memorial Hospital of natural causes. Esther was born to Millard and Irene (Meinen) Zeal on the family farm in Hanson County, South Dakota. She was raised and educated in the area, graduating from Farmer High School in 1956. Esther received her teaching diploma from Southern State Teachers College in 1958. She taught elementary school in Revina, SD, Mission, SD, and Niobrara, NE. Esther met Richard in 1957 and they were married October 3, 1958 at the First Christian Church in Spencer, SD. The couple later moved to Los Angeles, CA and both of their daughters were born there. The family moved to Gillette in 1974, and Esther worked for Schilling Properties as a bookkeeper and property manager. She later became the manager of Camelanes; a position she held for several years. Esther was an active member of the First Baptist Church. She was a member of the Womens Bowling Association, Gillette Bowling Council and YABA- Youth Bowling as well as a board member. She was an active volunteer with Special Olympics and community outreaches. Esthers family and grand children came first, but she took great joy in helping people in time of need. She enjoyed bowling, reading, fishing, hunting, gardening, collecting roosters and especially enjoyed baking for others. She has a large collection of recipes and loved to share baking and cooking stories. Esther is survived by her husband Richard of Gillette; daughters, Michelle (Jeff) Jarman of Spokane, WA; Melinda (Biff) Bauman of Gillette, WY; brother, Gilbert (Mary) Zeal of North Ridge, CA; sister, Elaine (Dave) Boehmer of Silverthorn, CO; four grandchildren, Alex & Zach, Jarman , and Andrea & Kevin Bauman as well as one uncle and one aunt and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Gladys Trout. A memorial has been established in her name to be designated at a later date. Memorials can be sent in care of the Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences can also be sent via the obituary tribute site on the website; ww.walkerfuneralgillette.com.