Esther Balke

VISITATION:

1 - 2 p.m., Monday, June 22 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel

SERVICE:

2 p.m., Monday, June 22 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel

Esther A. Balke, 103, of Chippewa Falls, died Friday, June 19, 2015 surrounded by her family, at Wissota Place, Chippewa Falls, while under the care of St. Croix Hospice.

Esther was born April 6, 1912, the third of nine children in Merindahl, South Dakota, to Alma (Olson) and Edward Landsem. The family moved to Wisconsin when Esther was 8 years old.

On March 30, 1938, she married Emil C. Balke at Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN. They lived in Wayne and Ann Arbor, MI before returning to Chippewa Falls in 1945. Esther worked in the business office at Huebsch Laundry in Eau Claire retiring after 25 years. Her hobbies were sewing and handiwork, and in her retirement, enjoyed winters in Texas. She had been a resident of Wissota Springs for the past nine years, where she had made many friends.

She was a longtime member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls, where she was active in the women's circle. Proud of her Norwegian decent, she enjoyed helping with the church's annual lefse and lutefisk dinners.

She is survived by her son, Merlin Balke; two granddaughters, Erika Balke and Rachel (Scott) Heighton; two great-granddaughters, Sophie and Kensi Heighton, all of Kentucky; a sister, Agnes Larson of Porterville, CA; and three sisters-in-law, Margaret Landsem, Kathleen Landsem and Marge Jeffers, all of Chippewa Falls.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Clara Nelson, Alfrieda LaVin, Tracey Landsem; four brothers, Norman, Conrad "Connie", Even and Helmer Landsem; daughter-in-law, Betty Balke in 2013; and her husband, Emil in 1997.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, June 22 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls with the Chaplain Nathan Anderson officiating. Interment will follow at Prairie View Cemetery, village of Lake Hallie.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service Monday at the funeral chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated and may go to St. Croix Hospice, 7200 Hudson Blvd. N., Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55128.

AFTERSERVICE

A funeral service for Esther A. Balke, 103, of Chippewa Falls was held at 2 p.m., Monday, June 22 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls. Chaplain Nathan Anderson officiated the service and during the service, granddaughters Erika Balke and Rachel Heighton, shared memories. Interment was at Prairie View Cemetery, village of Lake Hallie and those serving as casket bearers were Vic Sippel, Ray Helgerson, Peter Jeffers, and granddaughters, Erika and Rachel.