Esther Holcomb Chapman Day, 96

Esther Holcomb Chapman Day, 96, "left this life and all she loved here to return home to her Father and Savior" on Monday, Aug. 1, 2005, surrounded by her family at her home.

She was born Sept. 24, 1908, in Columbia Falls, to Harry and Paulina Wilhemina (Gehrke) Holcomb. Esther lived her whole life in the Flathead County. Her parents homesteaded up the North Fork in 1913, where Esther attended elementary school. When she was in high school, they moved to Columbia Falls.

Esther married Lynn Chapman in 1926, and they were blessed with one child, Wynona, in 1928. A few months later, Lynn passed away. Esther then married Ralph Day in 1931. The couple delivered mail up the North Fork for years, and Esther was a telephone operator for 17 years. She was also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ralph passed away in 1966.

She is survived by her daughter, Wynona D. Mathison; a brother, Leonard "Bud" Holcomb, both of Kalispell; five grandchildren, John and Marlene Mathison of Kalispell, Frank and Connie Bone of Hurricane, Utah, Gene and Bonnie Altig of North Pole, Alaska, Cy and Lonnie Bras of Boundary, Alaska, and Don and Chris Mathison of Maple Valley, Wash. Esther also has 29 great-grandchildren and 25 great-great-grandchildren. She loved her family dearly and "we will all miss her until we see her again."

Visitation for Esther will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4, in the Johnson Mortuary Chapel. Funeral services for will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Whitefish Stage in Kalispell, with Bishop Frank Wraught conducting. Burial will be afterward in the Glacier Memorial Gardens.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Esther's family.