Esther Gould, age 92, of Hitchcock, passed away Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at the SunQuest Health Care Center. Her funeral service was held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, July 24th at the Hitchcock United Methodist Church at Hitchcock. Burial was in the Altoona Cemetery.
Esther Helen Baseman was born January 23, 1926, to Edward Henry Carl and Rosa (Petersen) Baseman at Huron. She grew up on the family farm seven miles northeast of Huron. Esther was baptized and confirmed at American Lutheran Church. Esther attended Whittier School for all 8 years. She then went on to attend Huron High School for two years before graduating from Cavour High School. Esther worked at J.J. Newberry for one year. She then earned her teaching certificate at Notre Dame in Mitchell. Esther taught at various country schools in Beadle County, including Foster Creek, Whittier, and Michigan rural schools before settling in Hitchcock to teach elementary school from 1951 to 1954.
On December 27, 1953, Esther married Albert "Abie" Willis Gould. For many years, Albert and Esther owned and operated Gould Building Materials in Hitchcock until it closed in 1992. Esther was a proud member of the Hitchcock community for over 63 years. She and Abie enjoyed spending winter months in Arizona, and she continued to do so for many years after his death.
Esther was a member of Hitchcock United Methodist Church and United Methodist Church Women. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a member with Hitchcock Senior Citizens group, as well as the Good Willing Workers Club. She enjoyed handiwork and crafts. She loved spending time with her children and cherished her grandchildren.
Grateful for having shared in her life are her three sons, Albert Ray Gould and his wife, Kendra of Glendale Arizona, Donald A. Gould of Hitchcock and Gary L. Gould of Huron; five grandchildren, Ashton Gould, Courtney Gould, Lance Gould, Melissa Gould, Dustin Gould; her sister, Eleanor and her husband, Duane Wanner of Eureka; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 38 years, Albert; her sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Russell Harms; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Elwood Baseman and his wife, Arleen and Edgar Baseman and his wife, Delores; her grandson, Andrew Gould; her nephew Steven Harms; and her niece, Lois Baseman.