Esther Ovidia Kraus, 96

Esther Ovidia Kraus died of natural causes Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow. 

Esther was born April 16, 1916, to Dick and Bentine Opland in Nashua. 

She graduated from high school in Glasgow and then married John Brenden, and they raised six children in Nashua. 

When her children were growing up, she was very busy baking and canning food from her garden, as well as sewing some of their clothes. She also loved to cut hair and give permanents. She would even cut her own hair. 

 In 1968, she married Floyd Kraus and lived in Minot, N.D., until 1976. They moved to Kalispell and for nine years spent winters in Arizona. They were members of the Senior Center and enjoyed cards, dancing and potluck dinners. 

Esther’s twin great-granddaughters, Reese and Regin, were born in 2001, and she enjoyed living close to them and watching them grow.

Esther was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kalispell. 

She will be remembered for her love and devotion to her family. 

She moved back to Glasgow in 2009 and lived at Nemont Manor where she had more daily care. 

Esther was preceded in death by her husband, John, in 1961; her husband, Floyd, in 2000; son, Richard Brenden; brother, Bennie Opland; and sister, Ruth Truax. 

Survivors include her four daughters and their spouses, Jeanette and O.K. Forest of Glasgow, Betty and Darrell Trueblood of Kalispell, Darlene and Johnny Ramsbacher of Polson and Welton, Ariz., and Susan and Dale of Tucson, Ariz.; her son and his wife, Gary and Josephine Brenden, of Redding, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; sister, Gladys Nybakken, of Glasgow; brother, Clarence Opland, of Redmond, Wash.; and two stepdaughters, Pat Wenzel of New Rockford, N.D., and Joan Bommersback of Rapid City, S.D.

A memorial service will be held this spring. Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.