Esther Kusler

Esther Kusler, age 90, passed from this world into the life her heavenly father had prepared on February 20, 2024 at Eventide, Jamestown, ND, where she had lived the last 3 ½ years. Celebration of her Life will be held on Monday, February 26, 2024 at 11:00 AM at First Congregational Church, Kulm, ND. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at Kulm Congregational Cemetery.
Esther (Martha Esther) was born June 16,1933 in Horace, ND, the fourth child and first daughter of John F. and Martha (Roe) Carlson. She attended school in Horace until she was old enough to begin working for others. She met Marlin Kusler at her roommate's wedding. They were married in 1955. Home was the former Willie Kusler family farm 12 miles SW of Kulm until 1980 when it was time for the next generation to start farming, and they moved into town. As a farmwife and mother of four children born in five years, Esther quickly learned gardening, butchering, canning, freezing, and care of chickens, ducks, geese, lambs, and the milk cow.
The early family years included Esther helping start-ups of 4H, Boys and Girls Fellowship and Bible school. Midlife found them both expanding the farm and traveling, often with friends, through much of the U.S, and Canada and even a brother's home in Europe. They made some winter trips to work at Wycliff mission in Texas.
In her early 70's, life dramatically changed when an unusual type of slow but progressive dementia began first with loss of short-term memory. With the help of a spouse, family, and special people (Aimee and Sam) and really the wonderful entire Kulm community, she was able to live at home until Marlin died in 2020. Not even able to speak the last two months of her life it was an answer to her prayers to now give up this body.
Esther leaves the work on earth to her four children: Sheri (Del) Kost, Bismarck ND, Bruce (Nancy) Kusler, Kulm, ND, Sheila (Larry) Moser, Jamestown, ND, and Sharlotte (Mark) Elhard, Jamestown, ND, and to her fourteen grandchildren: Jason (Tammy) Kost Fargo, ND, Derek (Shawna) Kost & Corey (Katie) Kost, Bismarck, ND, Willie (Stacy) Kusler, Thompson, ND, Evan (Julia) Kusler, Kihei, HI, Hannah (Stephen) Roise, Kulm, ND, Elizabeth/Betsy (Devin ) Hiller, Glyndon, MN, Brett (fiance' TiffanyAlthaus) Moser, & Marco (Heather) Moser & Kelan (Jessica) Moser, Jamestown, ND, Charles Elhard, Fargo, ND, Benjamin (Lindsay) Elhard Adrian ND, Andrew (Annie) Elhard, Jud, ND, Nathan (Emily) Elhard Lansford, ND, and thereafter to the 29 precious great grandchildren: Anders & Brennan Kost, Mason, Nora & Marlee Kost, Marcella & Maxwell Kost, Lewis & Kirby Kusler, Oliver, Izetta, & Linus Roise, Emmett & Milo Hiller, Aunika, Alayna, Autumn & Annabelle Moser, Finn, Sawyer & Drue Moser, Kree & Piper Moser, Riley & Bryce Elhard, Kolt & Sage Elhard, and Colson & Lennon Elhard.
Esther is survived by a sister, Florence Flodstrom McIntosh, MN, and a brother Alvin (Charlotte) Carlson, Ada, MN, sister-in-law Joyce (Lyle) Janke, Fargo ND and brother-in-law Howard (Lucy) Kusler, Lake Oswego, OR.
Preceding her in death besides her husband Marlin and her parents, were three brothers (Victor, Gordon and John M. Carlson).
Because of Esther's concern that all children know Jesus, memorials are suggested to CEF SE Chapter (child evangelism such as good news and 5-day clubs to be used in local area) or Crystal Springs Bible Camp.