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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Helt, Esther Marie

Age 96

HELT, Esther Marie (Age 96) Esther Marie Helt, longtime Endicott resident, passed away Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the Whitman Health & Rehab Center in Colfax.

She was 96.

She was born December 11, 1916 in Endicott to John and Marie (Bafus) Gerlitz.

Being the oldest of seven children, Esther learned household duties from a very early age.

She graduated from Endicott High School.

Esther married Adam Helt in 1935.

The couple lived on the family farm between Endicott and St. John.

They kept busy with farm chores and raising their son Larry.

Later they moved into Endicott for Adam’s health reasons.

He passed away in 1962.

Esther worked for various families in the area where she used her household talents of cleaning, ironing and baking.

She was an excellent baker and was especially well known for her delicious pies, her German noodles and her orange rolls.

She was an avid reader and spent over twenty years as the Endicott branch librarian; a job she truly loved.

Helping people find books she thought they would enjoy or encouraging a child’s new-found interest in reading was very satisfying to her.

Esther was also the federal meat inspector for many years for the sausage plant at Endicott.

She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church and had served as Church janitor for many years.

Another love of hers was her flower gardens.

She eagerly awaited spring to get out in the yard.

Hours were spent planting, weeding, and watering.

Her large corner lot was Esther’s park.

She truly hated to see winter come and watch the plants go dormant, relegating her to the house until the next spring.

Esther is survived by her grandson, Derek Helt of Newport, Oregon, his wife Pamela and their daughters Natalia Werber and Emily Helt; her granddaughter Kendra Croft of Spokane and her husband Kevin and their sons Hunter and Micah; her sister Velma Jean Kita of Spokane; and her daughter-in-law Karen Schroeder of Dayton, WA.

as well as several nieces, nephews and many friends.

In addition to her husband Adam, she was preceded in death by son Larry in 1992; brothers Wilbert, Howard and Floyd; sisters Miriam Burwell and Janet Holbrook and her parents.

A time for viewing will be from 9 to 10 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Endicott on Thursday, February 7th.

The graveside service will be at 10:30 at the Endicott Cemetery and a Memorial Service at the church at 11:30.

Memorial gifts are suggested to the Whitman County Library.

On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com BRUNING FUNERAL HOME of Colfax is caring for the family.