Esther L Madsen

POCATELLO " Esther L. Madsen passed away peacefully on Saturday October 24, 2009 at a local medical center.

Esther Lavina Ruff was born July 12, 1926 in Aberdeen, Idaho to Jacob & Regina Braust Ruff. Esther was the 16th child born to that union. She was raised on a farm and attended rural school through the sixth grade when her parents moved into American Falls, where she graduated from high school.

Esther worked at Peterson's market for several years and met and married her husband, Stan Madsen of 56 years on July 9th 1950. They resided in Pocatello where she worked at Fargo's in cosmetics and began selling Estee Lauder in Pocatello and the surrounding areas. She also worked at Block's and The Bon Marche.

Esther is survived by two daughters, Regina McKay, Chandler, AZ, Jeanine (Calvin) Rowe, Chubbuck, ID; grandchildren, Ryan (Julie) LaChance, Kristi (Zach) Lott, Robbie (Hillary) Rowe, Jeff and Julie Rowe; four great-grandchildren, Jake & Jesse LaChance, Cayden Lott, and Jaceton Rowe; and one sister, Edna Pagel, Puyallup, WA.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband Stan, 6 brothers and eight sisters as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday October 28, 2009 at the Wilks Funeral Home 211 W. Chubbuck Road. A viewing will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday October 27, 2009 at the funeral home and from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. prior to services on Wednesday. Interment will follow services on Wednesday in the Mountain View Cemetery.