Esther R. Winters

Esther R. Winters, age 86 of West Union, died Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at her home in West Union, Minnesota. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 15 at St. Alexius Catholic Church in West Union with Rev. Andrew Marthaler officiating and Rev. Sylvester Kleinschmidt concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church in West Union. Parish prayers will be at 4 p.m. followed by the Christian Mothers at 7 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. Esther Regine Bromenshenkel was born January 4, 1926 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Albert and Elizabeth (Meyer) Bromenshenkel. She was united in marriage to Verne Winters on May 14, 1946 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. She was an active member of St. Alexius Catholic Church in West Union and the Christian Mothers for 64 years. Esther was also a member of Senior Adult Ministry. She was a caring, compassionate woman who touched so many hearts. Esther worked at Pine Villa Nursing Home in Melrose for 25 years as both a nursing assistant and LPN. She also worked at Crown Gas for 10 years. Esther was well-known for her positive attitude by greeting people with a smile and kind words. She became a Eucharistic Minister at the nursing home to bring Communion and spiritual needs to the residents. Esther is truly an inspiration of Christ's love in action; and how to be Christ's instrument by doing what we can, where we can, with what we have. Survivors include her children, James (Mary) Winters of Sauk Centre, John (Cathy) Winters of West Union, Ron (Nancy) Winters of Osakis, Rita Winters of Alexandria, Gary (Susan) Winters of West Union, and Elizabeth (Mike) Melby of Brooklyn Center; 19 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; sisters, Verena Steffes of Sauk Centre, Irene (Ray) Trisko of Sauk Centre, Jane (Cyril) Meyer of Sauk Centre, Evelyn (Allen) Siegle of Long Prairie, and Lillian "Tootie" (Eli) Lucas of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; sisters-in-law, Leona Bromenshenkel of Sauk Centre, Hildegard Bromenshenkel of Sauk Centre, Elsie Bromenshenkel of Sauk Centre, and Mildred Bromenshenkel of Sauk Centre; and many nieces and nephews. Esther was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Verne Winters on June 27, 1995; daughter, Beverly Friedrichs on March 7, 2010; brothers, Robert, Allan, Leonard, and Victor Bromenshenkel; sisters, Dorothy Bromenshenkel, Rita Bromenshenkel and Mary Gritzmacher Langer; infant brother, Lawrence Bromenshenkel; and brothers-in-law, Ed Steffes, Norman Gritzmacher, and Dan Langer; son-in-law, Richard Friedrichs. Serving as casket bearers will be Pat Winters, Isaac Winters, Matt Winters, Kevin Winters, Joe Melby, and Paul Winters. Cross bearers will be Cassondra Winters, Kristine WInters, Michelle Winters, and Amanda Melby and scripture bearer will be Ashley Winters.