Esther Klee, 89, Halliday, died Monday, January 31, 2011 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Esther’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, February 3, 2011 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Halliday, with Fr. Darnis Selvanayakam, MSFX as the celebrant. Interment will take place in the Spring at St. Paul’s Cemetery, Halliday. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, and will continue at the church at 6 p.m., with a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m. Visitation will also be one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.
Esther Dahlen was born April 22, 1921 on her family’s farm at Werner, the daughter of Martin and Ella (Hecht) Dahlen. She graduated from Werner High School and attended Dickinson State Teachers College.
Esther married Fred Klee on November 27, 1941 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Halliday. They lived on Fred’s family’s farm south of Halliday until 1945 when they moved to their present farm south of Halliday. They built their farm from the ground up and she spent the remainder of her life on the farm. She taught in local country schools for two years shortly after they moved to their present farm, then she spent the rest of the years working the farm with Fred. Fred and Esther had many people visit them over the years and the coffee pot was always on. Esther was an active member of St. Paul’s Auxiliary.
Esther is survived by her son, John (Linda) Klee, Halliday; grandson, Todd (Shana) Klee, Mandan; granddaughter, Melissa (Ned) Akin, Halliday; four great-granddaughters, Madelyn, Grace and Sophia Klee, and Kathryn Akin; two great-grandsons, Elias and Caleb Akin. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. She is also survived by one sister, Dorothy Nodland, Dickinson; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred on November 28, 2002; her parents; four brothers, Walter, Carl, Albert and Maynard; and two sisters, Bertina Mead and Mabel Robinson.
