Esther Murrey, age 86 of Wilton, ND died Sunday, April 6, 2008 at a Bismarck hospital.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 AM Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wilton. Rev. George Dukart, Celebrant; Deacon Jim Nistler, Assisting.

Interment at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery – rural Wilton, ND;

Visitation: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service; Visitation continues Saturday, one hour prior to time of service at the church.

Casketbearers: "Grandsons" – Jeff Murray, Stephanie Kopp, Mike Flinn, Patrick Fritel, Travis Murrey, & Tyrell Murrey

Esther was born January 19, 1922 at rural Wishek, ND the daughter of Karl & Katherine (Kirschman) Wanner. She attended rural school and graduated from Wishek High School in 1940. Esther continued her education at the Capital Commercial College in Bismarck. She worked at the Lucas Department Store in Bismarck while attending college. Following her college graduation, Esther became employed with the First State Bank of Wilton where she worked for one year. She married Frank Murrey on Aug. 26, 1942 at the St. Mary's Rectory in Bismarck. Esther and Frank farmed and ranched south of Wilton for fifty years and raised six children. She was active with the Sacred Heart Altar Society and served as Painted Woods Township clerk for many years. She loved flower and vegetable gardening, canning, and raising chickens, turkeys, geese, & ducks. She was well-known for her famous caramels, selling many at church bake sales and school sporting events. Esther was always taking care of people and will be fondly remembered for her hospitality. If she wasn't feeding several extra people at mealtime, she & Frank were giving people a place to stay until they could get back on their feet. She leaves many special friends in the community who have loved her and helped fulfill her life.
She is survived by three sons, Stan (Dorothy) Murrey of Wilton, Mark (Sandy) Murrey of Wilton, Tom (Carrie) Murrey of Kansas City, KS; three daughters, Mikkel Libby of Bismarck, Debbie (Ernie) Fritel of Cooperstown, ND, & Colleen (Don) Flinn of Wilton; twenty grandchildren & twenty-one great grandchildren plus one baby due in May; one sister, Elizabeth Humann of Minneapolis, MN.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband (Frank), parents, one grandson (Steven Libby), & seven brothers and sisters.