Esther V. (Benda) Noren (1930-2017)
Esther V. (Benda) Noren, 86, formerly of Oberlin, Kan., passed away Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, at Prairie West Assisted Living in Ellsworth, Kan.
She was born Aug. 24, 1930, on a farm near Achilles, Kan., to Robert and Hazel (Hurst) Benda.
Esther attended Achilles Grade School and graduated from Decatur Community High School in Oberlin with the Class of 1948. She taught one year at District 218 Valley View School, which was a one-room school.
On Aug. 5, 1949, Esther married Willard Noren. They lived on two different farms west of Oberlin where they raised their three children. As a housewife, mother and grandma, Esther loved gardening, sewing, learning and birds.
Esther was active in the Herndon Covenant Church with the choir, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School as a teacher, and Covenant Women. She also was on the Community Advisory Board of the Good Samaritan Society.
Survivors include her children, Judy (Larry) Thelander of Salina, Steven (Connie) Noren of Oberlin, and Alice (Ken) Robson of Ellsworth; grandchildren, Amy (Kent) Warden, Jeremy (Carissa) Thelander, Andy (Dayna) Robson, Kirk (Janelle) Robson, Britta (Jimmy) Spitzer, David Noren and Michael Noren; great-grandchildren, Tara and Kyle Warden; Connor, Brayden and Riley Thelander; Brielle and Aleigh Robson; and Silas, Austin and Sarah Robson; sister, Ida Marie (David) Erikson of Green Valley, Ariz.; and sister-in-law, Geneva (Gordon) Christensen of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Esther was preceded in death by her husband in 2004; parents; brothers, Wesley and John Benda; and great-grandson, Eli Robson.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, at the Herndon Covenant Church, rural Herndon, Kan., with Pastor Keith Reuther officiating. Burial will be in the Herndon Covenant Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Covenant Heights Conference Center (7400 Hwy. 7, Estes Park, Colo. 80511) or Good Samaritan Society-Ellsworth and may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N Penn Ave., Oberlin, Kan. 67749 (www.paulsfh.com).