1922
Esther
2011
Esther F Evans
December 20, 1922 — December 2, 2011
Esther Evans passed from this life on December 2, 2011, and was 88 years of age at the time of her death. Esther had resided in the Kalispell area for the last six years, having moved here from the Conrad and Shelby area, the last four years of which she resided at the Immanuel Nursing Home. The family would like to thank the nursing staff and employees for the excellent care and services given to Esther during her stay with them. They most certainly are God’s angels. Esther passed away from complications due to aging.
Esther Freier was born on December 20, 1922 in Plevna, Montana to Paul and Mary Freier. She was the oldest of eight siblings. She attended grade school in Plevna until the eighth grade, at which time she joined the work force to help with the responsibilities of a large family in rural Montana assisting her parents in raising their growing family. She learned at a young age the requirements associated with those responsibilities. It is still a marvel to many from where she drew her strength, determination, resolve, love of life, and the humors associated with living. Esther married Robert Mitchell in June of 1941 in Baker, Montana. She owned and operated the first commercial laundry in Baker and together they began their quite large family. In 1956 they made a move to Arkansas in the hopes of having their own ranch; however things in Arkansas did not pan out. The stories of the Arkansas adventure are well known in the family. And the courage and strength of Esther are well remembered. She returned to Montana in 1958, with her children in tow, on the wings of a prayer. She and Robert settled in Shelby at that time and together they had 12 children. Esther and Robert divorced in 1963.
Esther married Kenneth Evans in 1963. Together they owned and operated restaurants in Shelby at one time having three separate restaurants operating at the same time: the Dixie Inn, Evans Supper Club and Capitol Café. Together they had another son. With this marriage Esther also took on another 5 step children and took them under her wing as her own as well. In this whirlwind of family and business she became the matriarch of mother hood. She was a mom, a teacher, a mentor, a disciplinarian, and a leader. She could raise you up or put you down. She walked with her head held high and did what needed to get done. To know her was always an asset and never a liability. She somehow found the time to make each of us special in her own way. What an honor to know such a person. Esther retired with her husband Kenny in 1996 and they moved to Conrad where they resided at Blue Sky Villa and finally at the Horizon Lodge. Kenney Evans passed away in 2002, and Esther moved to Kalispell thereafter.
Esther is survived by one sister, Darlene Shaske of Alberton, MT; her eleven children, Jerri (Richard) Long of Palm Desert, CA, Norval Mitchell of Spokane, WA, Bernice Phelps of Castro Valley, CA, Ken (Charlotte) Mitchell of Spirit Lake, ID, Dave Mitchell of Kalispell, Chuck (Nancy) Mitchell of Roundup, Lynn Lunda of Kalispell, Kevin (Elaine) Mitchell of Shelby, Ranie (Jim) Ahenakew of Las Vegas, NV, Dean Mitchell of Eureka, Tom (Pat) Evans of Dixon, IL; and her step children, Leota Evans of Helena, Ken (Dorie) Evans of Seguin, TX, Antoinette Twin (Don Forbes) of Puyallup, WA, Lora (Zee) Zimmerman, and Susan Evans of Helena. Esther is also survived by well over a hundred grandchildren and great-grandchildren covering 4 generations, as well as many nieces and nephews too numerous to mention.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Mary Freier; her first husband, Robert Mitchell; the love of her life, Kenny Evans; five brothers, Emil, Richard, Kenny, Leo, and Alvin; sister, Violet; and two daughters, Mary Margaret Mitchell and Kim Scheer.
The family would like to extend an open invitation to help us in celebrating Esther’s life, if you would like to come to say goodbye, share a story or visit with us. There will be a visitation from 1-5 pm at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby on Tuesday, December 6, with a Rosary Service at 7:00 pm at St William Catholic Church. The funeral mass for Esther will be at St. William on Wednesday, December 7, at 10:30 am with burial in the Mountain View Cemetery. A reception for family and friends will follow in the St William parish hall.
Esther Freier was born on December 20, 1922 in Plevna, Montana to Paul and Mary Freier. She was the oldest of eight siblings. She attended grade school in Plevna until the eighth grade, at which time she joined the work force to help with the responsibilities of a large family in rural Montana assisting her parents in raising their growing family. She learned at a young age the requirements associated with those responsibilities. It is still a marvel to many from where she drew her strength, determination, resolve, love of life, and the humors associated with living. Esther married Robert Mitchell in June of 1941 in Baker, Montana. She owned and operated the first commercial laundry in Baker and together they began their quite large family. In 1956 they made a move to Arkansas in the hopes of having their own ranch; however things in Arkansas did not pan out. The stories of the Arkansas adventure are well known in the family. And the courage and strength of Esther are well remembered. She returned to Montana in 1958, with her children in tow, on the wings of a prayer. She and Robert settled in Shelby at that time and together they had 12 children. Esther and Robert divorced in 1963.
Esther married Kenneth Evans in 1963. Together they owned and operated restaurants in Shelby at one time having three separate restaurants operating at the same time: the Dixie Inn, Evans Supper Club and Capitol Café. Together they had another son. With this marriage Esther also took on another 5 step children and took them under her wing as her own as well. In this whirlwind of family and business she became the matriarch of mother hood. She was a mom, a teacher, a mentor, a disciplinarian, and a leader. She could raise you up or put you down. She walked with her head held high and did what needed to get done. To know her was always an asset and never a liability. She somehow found the time to make each of us special in her own way. What an honor to know such a person. Esther retired with her husband Kenny in 1996 and they moved to Conrad where they resided at Blue Sky Villa and finally at the Horizon Lodge. Kenney Evans passed away in 2002, and Esther moved to Kalispell thereafter.
Esther is survived by one sister, Darlene Shaske of Alberton, MT; her eleven children, Jerri (Richard) Long of Palm Desert, CA, Norval Mitchell of Spokane, WA, Bernice Phelps of Castro Valley, CA, Ken (Charlotte) Mitchell of Spirit Lake, ID, Dave Mitchell of Kalispell, Chuck (Nancy) Mitchell of Roundup, Lynn Lunda of Kalispell, Kevin (Elaine) Mitchell of Shelby, Ranie (Jim) Ahenakew of Las Vegas, NV, Dean Mitchell of Eureka, Tom (Pat) Evans of Dixon, IL; and her step children, Leota Evans of Helena, Ken (Dorie) Evans of Seguin, TX, Antoinette Twin (Don Forbes) of Puyallup, WA, Lora (Zee) Zimmerman, and Susan Evans of Helena. Esther is also survived by well over a hundred grandchildren and great-grandchildren covering 4 generations, as well as many nieces and nephews too numerous to mention.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Mary Freier; her first husband, Robert Mitchell; the love of her life, Kenny Evans; five brothers, Emil, Richard, Kenny, Leo, and Alvin; sister, Violet; and two daughters, Mary Margaret Mitchell and Kim Scheer.
The family would like to extend an open invitation to help us in celebrating Esther’s life, if you would like to come to say goodbye, share a story or visit with us. There will be a visitation from 1-5 pm at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby on Tuesday, December 6, with a Rosary Service at 7:00 pm at St William Catholic Church. The funeral mass for Esther will be at St. William on Wednesday, December 7, at 10:30 am with burial in the Mountain View Cemetery. A reception for family and friends will follow in the St William parish hall.
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