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Helen "Esther" Besler, Wells, Haggart known lovingly by family and friends as "Guppie" was born April 1, 1927, on the family ranch south of Bison in Perkins County, South Dakota. Esther is the daughter of Christian and Julia (Wolf) Besler and was the 5th of 13 children. She has 10 brothers and 2 sisters.

She attended Antelope School through 8th grade, walking 5 miles most days. She then graduated from Bison High School in 1945. After graduating she helped the war effort by working in the Todd Pacific Shipyard in Tacoma, WA where she served as a shipfitters helper on an aircraft carrier.

After WWII ended, she returned to South Dakota and married Sherman Wells in 1946. Five children were born to this union. Rodger, Lonnie, Cheryl, Randy and Julie. For the next 20 years the family traversed the state of South Dakota as Sherman worked on numerous construction projects. The family returned to Bison in 1966. Sherman passed away in 1975.

She was proud of being a hard worker and held many jobs from babysitting to seamstress, typist and reporter at the Bison Courier and several years as a clerk and Deputy Auditor for Perkins County. In 1984 she married James Haggart and settled in as a housewife. They shared the next 30 years together until Jim died in March 2014. After Jim's death she moved to Spearfish to be close to family. In 2017 she moved to Edgewood Vista Assisted Living where she made many friends. She passed on to be with her Lord and family who preceded her on Sunday, March 19, 2023.

She is survived by her children Rodger (Mary Lou) of Clearwater, FL, Lonnie (Cheryl) of Lincoln, NE, Cheryl (Bob) Shinabarger of Spearfish and Julie of Bow, New Hampshire. Son Randy was taken from the family in 1982, leaving behind his wife Cheryl, son Michael and daughter Sara Jo.

Also surviving are brothers Leroy of Madison, WI, Marlin (Dorothy) of Peoria, AZ, sister Alma O'Rourke of Spearfish along with sisters-in-law Carol Shepard of Gillette, WY, Linda Besler of Sturgis, SD, Renae Besler of Whitewood, SD, Barbara Besler of Bison, SD and stepson Terry Haggart (Mary) of Arizona.

"Guppie" got her name from grandson Max Loughlin and the beloved nickname was adopted by her grandchildren and many friends and family. She is survived by 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, 5 step grandchildren, 9 step great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, son Randy, husbands Sherman Wells and James Haggart, brothers Victor, Elmer, Leland, Oscar, Wayne, Ralph, Darrell and Raymond and her sister Elsie Penor. Also, sisters-in-law Pauline Besler, Ellen Besler, Mary Besler. Brothers-in-law Larry O'Rourke and Leroy Penor.

There will be a visitation for family and friends Thursday March 23 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Home at 450 North 7th Street Spearfish, SD.

Services will be held at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 1020 State Street in Spearfish at 10:00 a.m. Friday March 24 with lunch served following the service. Burial will follow at the Bison Cemetery at 3:00 p.m.

Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and will live-stream the service on their website at: evansonjensenfuneralhome.com.