Esther P. Klein, 88 passed away peacefully on Nov, 30th 2005 in Bismarck, ND, surrounded by her loving family following a short battle with cancer.

Esther Birkholz was born on Aug. 4th, 1917 to Gottlieb and Marie (Weiss) Birkholz. Esther grew up and attended schools in the rural Elgin, ND area. She married John Klein on Sept. 12th, 1934. Together they moved to Hamilton, MT where they both worked in the beet fields. Later they bought a farm near Elgin. Some years later they sold the farm and John went to work in the construction field. In 1966 John and Esther moved to Killdeer, ND and lived there until 1978. John retired from construction and they decided to return to Elgin. John passed away in 1979 and Esther continued to live in Elgin until 2000 when she moved to Mandan and lived at Liberty Heights.

Esther enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grand children. She enjoyed many adventures and trips with them. Esther loved to do embroidery work, as well as collect dolls and elephant figurines and Esther was a wiz at crossword puzzles.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, sisters, her husband, a daughter, Ione, and sons John Jr. and Jerald. Survivors include her sons Gene Klein, Hardin, MT and Randy Klein, Fargo, ND and an adopted son Demetrio Hernandez, Hardin MT, son-in-law, Marvin Dachtler, Glen Ullin, ND. She is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.


Funeral services will be held on Dec. 6th at 10:30 a.m. Mountain time at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elgin, ND. Rev. Jerry Lee will officiate. Committal will follow at the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, December 5 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday morning.

In lieu of flowers, a Memorial has been established by the family.