Esther Martha-Emma Kruse

Esther Martha-Emma Kruse was born to Anton and Auguste (Stern) Matzke on December 15, 1934 on a farm near Lamberton, Minnesota where she was raised and attended country school. Upon completion of her education, she worked in the dietary department at the hospital and nursing home in Springfield, Minnesota. On May 7, 1957, she was united in marriage to Luvern Kruse at Zion Lutheran Church in Lamberton. They began their married life in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. In 1958, they moved to Wanda, Minnesota; and in 1960, they moved to Jeffers, Minnesota. In 1964, they moved to Pipestone, Minnesota; and in 1967, they moved to Plankinton, South Dakota. In 1968, they returned to Pipestone. During these years, Esther stayed at home and raised their children. After Lynn graduated from high school, Esther began working in the housekeeping department at the Pipestone County Medical Center. On August 5, 1996, she became employed at Juba’s grocery store. After the store was sold to Coborn’s, she continued to work there until her retirement in 2007. After retirement, she lived in her own home for a number of years until she moved in to Ridgeview Estates. In September of 2022, Esther was placed on hospice care and she passed on Tuesday, September 27 while at the Pipestone Avera Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.

Esther was a faithful member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she and her husband were employed as the church custodians for a few years. She kept busy quilting, babysitting, and gardening.

She is lovingly remembered by her five children, Duane Kruse and his wife Pam of Pipestone, Jilene "Jill" Whipple and her husband Richard "Dick" of Pipestone, Brian Kruse and his wife Jill of Ellsworth, Lynn Ross of Farmington, and Kevin Kruse and his wife Kelly of Rochester; her son-in-law, Chuck Jensen of Alexandria; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Alvin Matzke of Hutchinson, and William Matzke of Alexandria; four sisters, Arleen Kruse of Hutchinson, Emma Wall of Balaton, Edna Goll of Hancock, and Helen Goll of Alexandria; and sister-in-law Mike Matzke of Rochester. She was preceded in death by her husband, Luvern; her daughter, Sharon Jensen; her parents; her brothers, Ervin Matzke, Elmer Matzke, and Robert Matzke, and her son-in-law, Dave Ross.