Esther V.L. Smith, 90, Rugby, North Dakota passed away on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at Bethany Homes, University Drive in Fargo, North Dakota.

Esther was born to Andrew and Anna (Haugstad) Tastad on May 31, 1927 in Rolette, North Dakota.  She attended school in Rolette and graduated from Rolette High School in 1945.  After graduation she went through the Good Samaritan Hospital nursing program to become an RN, graduating in 1948 and working in Rolette, New Rockford and Rugby.  Most of her career was spent at the Good Samaritan Hospital as an OB nurse.

She was united in marriage to Loren E. Smith on July 29, 1951 in Rolette, ND at Valle Lutheran Church.  They were blessed with six children and spent a majority of their married life in Rugby.

Esther enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She had a love of music and the arts, supporting both the school and community programs.  Her faith ran deep and she was active in circle, quilting and altar guild at First Lutheran Church.  She was an example to her children and instilled in them the importance of a faith in their Creator and His son, Jesus Christ.  She loved visiting with friends and family and the coffee pot was always on.  In her later years, she enjoyed working her puzzles and playing Bingo at her assisted living homes.

Esther is survived by her children, Laurel (Kevin) Toyne of Glendale, AZ, Naomi Schmitz (Tom) Rislow of Cashton, WI, Cynthia Granger of St. Louis Park, MN, Sidonia (Robert) Burnell of Oshkosh, WI, Sonja (Milton) Myhre of Fargo, ND and Tim (Kristin) Smith of Russellville, AR; brothers Kenneth of Rugby, ND and Irvin (Margaret) Tastad of Fertile, MN; 14 grandchildren, Danielle, Eric (Sarah) and Ashley Toyne, Aimee (Christopher) Blunt, Tara Schmitz, Derek (Kate) Schmitz, Megan (David) Hanson, Christopher and Sarah Burnell, Shannon (Adam) Brager, Chrystal (Michael) Cooper, Kelsey (Cory) Hengel and Brittni Myhre (Josh Elke), Noah Smith; 19 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Loren E. Smith; her parents, Andrew and Anna Tastad; sisters, Myrtle and Bernice Tastad and Gladys Sorensen; brothers, Selmer, Albert, Tilford and Harold Tastad; one great-granddaughter, Christine Cooper; two sons-in-law, Mike Schmitz and Mark Granger.

A memorial service in celebration of Esther’s life will be held at First Lutheran Church in Rugby at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2018. 

Memorials in her memory may be directed to the First Lutheran Church quilters, Heart of America Concert Series or Heart of America Medical Center.