Esther R. Bishop, 94, of Ettrick, Wi, died on Sunday November 16, 2014 at the Marinuka Manor in Galesville. She was born on May 17, 1920 in Rural Ettrick to Hans Oscar and Anna Louise (Nelsestuen) Severson. She married William S. Bishop on February 9, 1939 in Whitehall, WI. He preceded her in death on November 9, 1974.
Esther was the youngest of her family and the last surviving child. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, she adored her family and grandchildren. She was a strong believer in her faith and was a member of St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Ettrick and an active member of the Alter Society. Esther was a 46 year member of the American Legion Post 354 Auxiliary. She loved playing cards and was a member of many area card clubs. She was a lover of nature and an avid bird lover, she was able to identify her birds by their sound. Esther was farm wife and homemaker, a great cook and baker making lefse and donuts that she sold. She provided home care for many years and touched many lives and will be greatly missed.
Esther is survived by ten children: Beverly Paulson of Ettrick, Gary (Marilyn ) Bishop of Ettrick, Judy (Tom) Scherr of Trempealeau, Dean (Marilee) Bishop of North Port, FL, Linda Phillips of Onalaska, Lorraine (Eliot) Solsrud of Whitehall, Sharon Bishop of Ettrick, Cindy (Neil) Moe of Arcadia, Rhonda (Brian) Luebke of Trempealeau and Ricky (Jodi) Bishop of Isanti, MN; 42 grandchildren, 76 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law Charlotte Bishop of Ettrick and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 2 sons Donald and Sheldon; 3 grandchildren Valerie Jostad, Andrew Bishop and Bart Scherr; Son-in-Laws Larry Paulson and Jim Phillips; 2 brothers and 6 sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday November 19, 2014 at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Ettrick, WI. Father Edmund Doerre will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.