Esther Elfering, age 86, of Mahnomen, MN, died Friday, October 1, 2010 at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home.

Esther Francis Schoenborn was born on February 4, 1924 to John and Louise (Ahmann) Schoenborn in rural Mahnomen County. She was a lifelong member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Beaulieu, MN, where she was baptized, confirmed and later married. As a young lady, Esther cooked and cleaned for different farm families in the area. She was united in marriage to Gilbert Elfering on February 9, 1942 and they made their home on a farm east of Mahnomen. In addition to raising a large family, Esther could also be found helping Gilbert on the farm with the daily chores. In later years, she worked at Kjos Café, the Mahnomen Dairy Barn and then became the pastry cook at the Red Apple Café in Mahnomen. They retired from milking in 1969 and in the late 70's Esther and Gilbert moved into Mahnomen. Gilbert passed away on August 11, 1985 and Esther continued to live in the house until 2009, when she moved to the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home.

Esther enjoyed keeping her hands busy by embroidering, quilting, cooking, and baking. She loved to play cards and meeting her friends for coffee at the Red Apple Café. Along with being a lifelong member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, she was also a charter member of the Christian Mother's of Beaulieu and the Bejou, MN, VFW Auxiliary.

Esther is survived by two sons, Thomas (Verna) Elfering, Lewistown, MT, and Donald (Sandy) Elfering, Mahnomen; nine daughters: Adeline Kersting, Cloquet, MN, JoAnn (Ted) Kersting, Waubun, MN, Sharon (Tom) Revier, Waubun, MN, Theresa (Louis "Skip") Stuvland, Sabin, MN, Vicky (Butch) Schultz, Moorhead, MN, Margie (Don) Lippert, Fargo, ND, Shirley (Mark) Anderson, Bejou, MN, Kathy (Wayne) Allen, Farmington, MN, and Debbie (Bob) Carter, Sauk Rapids, MN; 37 grandchildren; 61 great-grandchildren; one brother, LeRoy (Erika) Schoenborn, Germany; two sisters, Millie Gregorie, Billings, MT, and Virginia Stenslie, Columbia Heights, MN; four nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert; sister, Genevieve "Genny" Fairbanks, five grandchildren: Paul, Margaret, Matthew, Elizabeth Revier and Barbara Allen; and a great grandson, Gavin Schultz.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 11:00 am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Beaulieu, MN. Father Mario Prada was the officiant with Monica Winter as the organist and Mary Ann Brisbois and Carol Liebl as the song leaders. Pallbearers were grandchildren: David Elfering, Adam Anderson, Marcus Carter, Chris Allen, Bob Stuvland, Terry Elfering, Darrell Kersting, Ken Kersting, John Revier, Donnie Lippert and Kristina Schultz. Honorary pallbearers were Esther's grandchildren. Visitation was held Tuesday, October 5, 2010 from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 6:30 pm at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Mahnomen with Diane Spaeth as the pianist.

Interment was at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Beaulieu.