Obituaries

Obituaries Nellie Ester

Nellie B. Ester, 93, of Vermillion died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2002, at Countryside Retirement Home in Sioux City, IA.

Services were at 11 a.m. Wednesday at United Methodist Church in Vermillion, with the Revs. Brook McBride and Elmer "Sandy" Aakre officiating. Burial was in BluffView Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Larry Bruyer, Gary Bathurst, Joe Bruyer, Steve Markowsky, Dick Bathurst and Dave Roetman.

Visitation was 3 to 7 p.m. Feb. 19, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Iverson-Siecke Funeral Home in Vermillion.

Mrs. Ester was born Jan. 7, 1909, in Parkston, the daughter of Chasty and Bertha (Sherk) Welch. She graduated from Parkston High School and from Southern State Normal School in Springfield. She attended The University of South Dakota.

She married Benjamin W. Ester on Aug. 28, 1945, in Vermillion. He died Sept. 16, 1995.

She taught in rural schools in Hutchinson, Turner and Clay counties for 14 years. She then was a seamstress for Hannies Mens Wear in Vermillion for 18 years.

She was a former member and board of trustees at United Methodist Church and Women's Auxiliary. She was a former president of the P.T.A. of Austin School and the district P.T.A. She was a member of Vermillion United Methodist Church and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.

Survivors include two daughters, Louise (Larry) Bruyer and Lela Mae (Gary) Bathurst, both of Sioux City; a sister, Ruth (John) Taylor of Worthington, MN; a sister-in-law, Mary Welch of Parkston; grandchildren, Joe and Amie Bruyer, Stephani Bruyer, Jennifer and Steve Markowsky and Susan and Ousama Tatby; and great-grandchildren, Addy and Brianna Markowsky, Leila Tatby and Benjamin Bruyer.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Joseph and Clifford Welch.

Erin Merrill

Erin (Mellem) Merrill, 22, Sioux Falls, died Monday, Feb. 11, 2002 at her home in Sioux Falls.

Funeral service was 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 at Calvary Lutheran Church, Irene. Burial was in the Trondhjem Cemetery, rural Volin.

Visitation began at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 14 with a 7 p.m. prayer service at the church.

Iverson-Siecke Funeral Home, Vermillion, was in charge of arrangements.

She was born Dec. 23, 1979, at Yankton. She graduated from Irene High School in 1998. She worked in a day care center. She married Benjamin S. Merrill Aug. 25, 2001, at Irene.

She is survived by her husband, Benjamin, Sioux Falls; her parents, Marcia and Dan Sathe, Irene; one sister, Jill Sathe, Irene; one brother, Jared Mellem, Crofton, NE; her grandmother, Evelyn Mellem, Irene; and one niece.