Esther M. Miles, loving mother to Diane, Barb, Ronald, Marlene, Danny, and Darren, passed away on December 25, 2023, at the age of 96. Her final moments were spent at Spearfish Canyon Health Care surrounded by family.
Esther was born on July 26, 1927 to Edward and Margaret (Comstock) Ritter in Dupree, SD. She lived with her family on a ranch in rural Ziebach County. Esther attended country school until 8th grade, and later, she proudly completed her GED.
When Esther was 20 years old, she met the love of her life, Raymond Miles. Esther and Raymond were married in Rapid City, SD on December 22, 1947. They lived happily together in Faith, working on a small farm outside of town until Raymond passed in 1980. Esther continued to tend the farm, raise the children, and work various jobs around Faith, including jobs at cafes, the theater, accounting, and her favorite, the Star Lite Motel.
In 1989, Esther retired and moved to Belle Fourche, SD. During her retirement, she spent her time traveling around the U.S., baking, crafting, volunteering, and spending time with her friends and family in the outdoors. Esther enjoyed spending time in the kitchen creating delicious treats for her family. Her grandchildren loved to gather around the kitchen table for cookies while listening to Esther’s stories about her bus tours. She collected memorabilia from her travels, and jokingly claimed to have met General George Custer and to have a vial of sand from the basement of the Alamo. When she wasn’t traveling, Esther enjoyed crafting and spending time outdoors. She was a skilled crafter and filled her home with quilts, cross-stitch, knitted blankets, and miniature horses. She loved to make and share crafted items with her family, especially her grandchildren. During retirement, Esther spent many hours as a volunteer at the nearby retirement home, where she helped style and cut hair. She also volunteered at her church, where she baked goods for various events and helped run the Vacation Bible School. Esther loved the outdoors, and continued the annual family camping trip to Medora, ND, with her children and grandchildren each Labor Day. She also enjoyed taking her grandchildren hiking, fishing, hunting, and camping to attend Volksmarches around the Black Hills with family and friends.
Esther was preceded in death by her husband Raymond, her parents, Edward and Margeret and a son-in-law, Raymond Isaacs.
She is survived by her six children, Diane Isaacs of Faith, SD, Ronald Miles of Belle Fourche, SD, Marlene Ridinger of Alzada, MT, Barbara Bell of Aberdeen, SD, Danny Miles of Faith, SD and Darren Miles of Belle Fourche, SD; seven grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 2, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Kline Funeral Chapel in Belle Fourche. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 3 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church in Belle Fourche. Interment will follow at 2:00 pm at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Western Hills Humane Society, 324 Industrial Drive Spearfish, SD 57783.
An online guest book is available at klinefuneralchapel.com
