Esther Smith

Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Esther Smith, 86, Holdingford will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 25, 2017, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Opole. Father Eugene Doyle will officiate and burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Esther passed away peacefully Tuesday afternoon with family at her side at the St. Benedict’s Center in St. Cloud. There will be a visitation one hour prior to services on Saturday. Arrangements are being made with Miller-Carlin Funeral Home, Holdingford.
Esther was born at home on April 26, 1930 to Leo and Mary (Posch) Rudolph in Brockway Township. She attended the local school and grew-up with seven sisters. At age 18, Esther married Norbert “Slim” Smith in Opole and together raised their two children. She spent her life in Opole, was a homemaker, and worked the family farm with Slim. Esther’s first job was in Lichy’s Café and Greyhound Bus Stop in Avon and later the Poultry House in St. Cloud. She then worked at Fanny Farmer in St. Cloud for 18 years. In 1975, she and Slim sold off the cattle and became crop farmers. Esther loved country life, took care of the dairy cows, milked them, and enjoyed riding her John Deere 9200 tractor around the farm. She was a nature lover, with pink star-gazer lilies being her favorite flower. Esther was proud of her hat and bell collections, and liked to dress-up like Santa. She loved spending time with friends, creating fun wherever she was, and cooking her signature dishes like homemade cheesecake and bumpy soup. Esther loved to plow alongside Scott with Becky riding shotgun. Family will miss her positive attitude and her willingness to always “take a chance.” Esther was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Opole.
Esther is survived by her children June (Gregory) Waldorf, Avon; Scott (Julie) Smith, Opole; her sisters Josephine Wunderlich, St. George, UT; Lorraine Smieja, Hermantown; Margaret “Marge” Rudolph, St. George, UT; Violet “Vi” Bradley, McAllen, TX; her four grandchildren Amanda (Joe) O’Masta, Becky Kalla, Heather Smith, Brent Smith; and her brother-in-law Dennis Aadland; as well as many other family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband Slim Smith in June of 2010, her parents Leo and Mary Rudolph, her sisters Alma Rudolph, Mary Jane Aadland, and Janice Helmin, and brothers-in-law Christopher Wunderlich and Albert Smieja.