Esther Christine Rolfs was born August 15, 1905, the daughter of Thomas G. and Edith (Beard) Rolfs in Lawton, Woodbury County, Iowa. She was the eldest of nine children.
Esther attended Park College in Parkville, Missouri and was an honor student in Latin. She also attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and took additional courses at the University of Iowa. Esther earned her teacher's certificate at age 19. She taught in Iowa, at Moville High School, Valley Junction (now West Des Moines), and Aurelia, teaching Latin, English, and Ancient History.
On August 16, 1930 Esther married Wesley Kenneth Nelson. Wesley's parents, and then his sister, owned and operated Else's Cafe on Main Street in Aurelia, Iowa. She lived in Aurelia for 43 years, where she raised her children and was a leader in the community. Esther was an officer in many organizations including the Women's Club of Aurelia, the Cancer Society, Bridge group, and helped to organize the PTA, She was a member of the Congregational Church, the Peregrins White Circle, and taught Bible school. She was an avid reader and crossword puzzle wizard. Esther moved to Connecticut in 1971 after her husband's death and became a specialist in caring for twins, and worked into her 80s. She had traveled by both covered wagon, to Colorado at about age 8, and jet aircraft, through her 90s.
Preceding Esther in death were her parents; her husband Wesley on September 1, 1970; one son, Caroll Don Nelson; three grandsons; Steve Nelson and two infants; two sisters, Alice Rolfs and Dorothy Kaup; and two brothers, Thomas, Jr. and Claus Rolfs.
Esther attended Park College in Parkville, Missouri and was an honor student in Latin. She also attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and took additional courses at the University of Iowa. Esther earned her teacher's certificate at age 19. She taught in Iowa, at Moville High School, Valley Junction (now West Des Moines), and Aurelia, teaching Latin, English, and Ancient History.
On August 16, 1930 Esther married Wesley Kenneth Nelson. Wesley's parents, and then his sister, owned and operated Else's Cafe on Main Street in Aurelia, Iowa. She lived in Aurelia for 43 years, where she raised her children and was a leader in the community. Esther was an officer in many organizations including the Women's Club of Aurelia, the Cancer Society, Bridge group, and helped to organize the PTA, She was a member of the Congregational Church, the Peregrins White Circle, and taught Bible school. She was an avid reader and crossword puzzle wizard. Esther moved to Connecticut in 1971 after her husband's death and became a specialist in caring for twins, and worked into her 80s. She had traveled by both covered wagon, to Colorado at about age 8, and jet aircraft, through her 90s.
Preceding Esther in death were her parents; her husband Wesley on September 1, 1970; one son, Caroll Don Nelson; three grandsons; Steve Nelson and two infants; two sisters, Alice Rolfs and Dorothy Kaup; and two brothers, Thomas, Jr. and Claus Rolfs.
Esther Christine Rolfs was born August 15, 1905, the daughter of Thomas G. and Edith (Beard) Rolfs in Lawton, Woodbury County, Iowa. She was the eldest of nine children.
Esther attended Park College in Parkville, Missouri and was an honor student in Latin. She also attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and took additional courses at the University of Iowa. Esther earned her teacher's certificate at age 19. She taught in Iowa, at Moville High School, Valley Junction (now West Des Moines), and Aurelia, teaching Latin, English, and Ancient History.
On August 16, 1930 Esther married Wesley Kenneth Nelson. Wesley's parents, and then his sister, owned and operated Else's Cafe on Main Street in Aurelia, Iowa. She lived in Aurelia for 43 years, where she raised her children and was a leader in the community. Esther was an officer in many organizations including the Women's Club of Aurelia, the Cancer Society, Bridge group, and helped to organize the PTA, She was a member of the Congregational Church, the Peregrins White Circle, and taught Bible school. She was an avid reader and crossword puzzle wizard. Esther moved to Connecticut in 1971 after her husband's death and became a specialist in caring for twins, and worked into her 80s. She had traveled by both covered wagon, to Colorado at about age 8, and jet aircraft, through her 90s.
Preceding Esther in death were her parents; her husband Wesley on September 1, 1970; one son, Caroll Don Nelson; three grandsons; Steve Nelson and two infants; two sisters, Alice Rolfs and Dorothy Kaup; and two brothers, Thomas, Jr. and Claus Rolfs.
Esther attended Park College in Parkville, Missouri and was an honor student in Latin. She also attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and took additional courses at the University of Iowa. Esther earned her teacher's certificate at age 19. She taught in Iowa, at Moville High School, Valley Junction (now West Des Moines), and Aurelia, teaching Latin, English, and Ancient History.
On August 16, 1930 Esther married Wesley Kenneth Nelson. Wesley's parents, and then his sister, owned and operated Else's Cafe on Main Street in Aurelia, Iowa. She lived in Aurelia for 43 years, where she raised her children and was a leader in the community. Esther was an officer in many organizations including the Women's Club of Aurelia, the Cancer Society, Bridge group, and helped to organize the PTA, She was a member of the Congregational Church, the Peregrins White Circle, and taught Bible school. She was an avid reader and crossword puzzle wizard. Esther moved to Connecticut in 1971 after her husband's death and became a specialist in caring for twins, and worked into her 80s. She had traveled by both covered wagon, to Colorado at about age 8, and jet aircraft, through her 90s.
Preceding Esther in death were her parents; her husband Wesley on September 1, 1970; one son, Caroll Don Nelson; three grandsons; Steve Nelson and two infants; two sisters, Alice Rolfs and Dorothy Kaup; and two brothers, Thomas, Jr. and Claus Rolfs.
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