Esther Jean Berkstresser (91) passed away Sunday, July 31, 2016 in Belton, MO. There will be a service Saturday, August 6, 11:00 a.m. at Faith Baptist Church, 2331 S. Ingram, Sedalia, MO, with a visitation prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Family suggests contributions to Faith Baptist Church, 2331 S. Ingram Ave., Sedalia, Missouri or Antioch Cemetery fund, Versailles, Missouri.
Esther was born December 24, 1924 near Stover, MO, to Fred J. and Mary Ann (Kaiser) Smith. She grew up on farms near Stover and graduated from Stover High School in 1943. In May 1943, during World War II she married the love of her life, Warren H. Berkstresser of Versailles, MO. They were married 72 years and have two surviving children, Don Berkstresser (Barb) of Lee’s Summit, MO and Pam Creason (Fred) of Casper, WY. They also lost a son at birth, Blaine.
During WWII, Esther supervised a playground in Oklahoma City while Warren served in the Navy at the Norman (OK) Naval Air Station. Then, she returned to Stover and worked at Cooper’s Store when Warren was sent to Hawaii for the last year of the war.
Following the war, the Berkstressers settled in Sedalia, where Esther spent several years as a housewife, caring for her husband and children. Then, from 1964 to 1970 she worked at Bellas Hess catalog store in Sedalia, becoming its credit manager. She later worked as a saleslady at Connor Wagner clothing store and then finally at the catalog desk in Montgomery Ward from 1975 until its closing in 1985.
Warren and Esther were long-time active members of Faith Baptist Church in Sedalia, where she enjoyed teaching a preschool Sunday School class and helping with many church activities. Most importantly, Esther knew Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
Esther enjoyed her family, cooking for family and friends, fishing at the Lake of the Ozarks, deer hunting with her husband and raising flowers in her yard at home. In 2014, after 64 years in Sedalia, Warren and Esther moved to the Lee’s Summit area to be near their family.
Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Warren this February, her parents, her sister Delores Shipps Brunjes, and her son Blaine. She is survived by her son Don and daughter Pam; four grandchildren – Robert Berkstresser, Stephen Berkstresser, John Berkstresser and Deborah Cook; and five great-grandchildren – Amanda, Brandi, Christina, Alexandra and William.
Arrangements: Wallace Funeral Home, Pleasant Hill, MO
Leave a Condolence