Esther L. Kirton, age 87, of Apopka, Florida and formerly of Huron, passed away peacefully at her home Wednesday, January 16, 2019. Her memorial service was held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, June 29th at the Kuhler Funeral Home. Burial was in the Restlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Esther L. Hines was born June 8, 1931, to Truman and Helena (Ehlers) Hines at Stickney, South Dakota. She graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1949, and then attended the Wessington Springs Junior College the summers of 1949 and 1950.
On October 20, 1951, Esther married Robert Kirton at Pierre.
Esther started teaching in September 1949 at the Mortimer Country School, then from 1950 to 1951 at the Dale Center in Jerauld County and again from 1954 to 1955. She then taught from 1958 to 1960 the upper grades at the Broadland School. From 1960 to 1963, Esther taught at Miner School, at Cain Creek in 1963 to 1964, and Riverside Colony from 1965 to 1987. She taught eighteen years in Beadle County and then seventeen years with the Huron School District.
Esther and Robert were active caregivers for both sets of their parents and continued that outreach to their neighbors in need.
She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Robert on September 26, 2008; one brother, Wesley Hines; and one brother-in-law, Keith Shaller.
Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Robin Kirton of St. Paul, Minnesota, Sherri Holcombe of Apopka, Florida, and Theodore "Ted" Kirton of Phoenix, Arizona; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Mel T. (Ky) Hines of Anchorage, Alaska and Orville (Sue) Hines of Erie, Colorado; two sisters, Louise Shaller of Wessington Springs, and Wanda (Dennis) Guttormson of Jamestown, North Dakota; and one sister-in-law, Bertha Hines of South Sioux City, Nebraska.