Esther W. Tibke, age 98 of Carson, died January 29, 2014 at Sanford Health Care Center in Mandan.

The Funeral Service for Esther will be held at 1:00pm Monday, February 3, 2014 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Carson. Pastor Sam Biebert will officiate with burial in the Carson Community Cemetery.

Serving as Honorary Casketbearers are her granddaughters, Shelly Moore, Nancy Wolff, Jill Tibke, Rocksanne Peterson, Fonda Tibke, Beth Tibke, Tana Kock, Misty Koch, Ranita Mann and Kelsey Meyer.

Serving as Active Casketbearers are her grandsons, Brian Conrad, Levi Tibke, Mark Werner, Steven Tibke, Shawn Tibke, Justin Hauge, Travis Werner, Chad Tibke, Lance Conrad, Zane Tibke, Lee Barth, and Wade Tibke.

Esther was born July 7, 1915 in Leith, ND to William and Selma (Nyland) Wessel, the second oldest of six daughters. She grew up in Leith and graduated from Leith High School in 1934. After high school, Esther went to Business School in Canton, SD where she also was known as a very good basketball player. Following Business School, she worked at the Grant County Courthouse.

In the fall of 1939, she was united in marriage to Earl Tibke in Miles City, MT. They farmed near Carson for a few years before purchasing a farm south of Brisbane near the Cannonball River. They farmed and raised their family of 10 children there.

Esther was a devoted mother, grandmother, homemaker, and always enjoyed her membership in the Paradise Homemakers Club where she made many lasting friendships. In 1984, Earl and Esther retired to a home in Carson.

Esther is survived by her 3 daughters, Erla (Mark) Werner, Lark, ND; Doris Tibke, Piedmont, SD; and Norma (Robert) Barth, Bismarck, ND; 5 sons, Gary (Beverly) Tibke, Loren Tibke, and Leland Tibke, all of Bismarck, ND; James Tibke, Carson, ND; and Brian (Sandra) Tibke, Carson, ND; 23 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren, 3 sisters, Connie Johnson, Centralia, WA; Lucille Mickelson, Elgin, ND; and Phyllis Albrecht, Snohomish, WA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Earl, 3 daughters, Lyla Conrad, Patsy Hague, and in infancy Mary Ellen Tibke, a grandson, Scotty Barth, a great granddaughter, Sharon Peterson, and 2 sisters, Hazel Wessel and Marion Goronsky.

We are all so grateful for all the wonderful years we had with our Mother and Grandmother and her memory will live on in our hearts forever.