Esther Miller

A Mass of Christian Burial for Esther Miller, 84, of Spirit Lake, will be held Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 10:30 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Burial will be at Lakeview Gardens. Visitation will be held on Monday, April 17th after 3:30pm with the family present from 5:00-7:00pm followed by a Rosary at 7:00pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Esther was born to Edward ("Papa") and Rose Roets on February 26th, 1933, in Wichita, KS. Esther had fascinating stories about growing up in those days, often speaking about the day her Papa had to dig up and reposition his amputated arm due to phantom pains, or the time she was forced to tell the renowned musician Nat King Cole he could not sit in the front of the theater (something that profoundly embarrassed her for decades). Esther loved baseball and played shortstop during her school years. In 1949, at the age of 16, she married Harold Coate, with whom she had eight children. During this time, Esther managed the on-going chaos of a home full of young kids, and worked as a retail salesperson at Christmas time to help pay for presents for the children. Later, she also worked as a hospital aide at Methodist and Lakes Regional Hospitals. The early years of their marriage were filled with hope, as they worked together to raise their family but after 25 years, they divorced in 1976. Esther went on to marry the wonderful and big-hearted Don Miller - and her ninth child was born. With Don, many happy memories were made. They enjoyed travelling together, playing golf, watching sports, and spending time with family. After Don's death, Esther spent much of her time volunteering. She developed an active social life, and loved to go dancing. Esther was beautiful inside and out, and this was obvious to anyone who met her. There wasn't a person she encountered who didn't comment on how pretty she was. She married again, and enjoyed a few years of travel and dancing, until dementia crept in slowly, and her marriage dissolved. This resulted in the return to Spirit Lake, her home. Her final years were filled with close family and friends, the addition of great-grandchildren, and even a trip to the Dominican Republic to see her granddaughter get married. On April 14, 2017, Esther Marie Miller passed away peacefully, surrounded by those who loved her. We are comforted knowing her beautiful personality is no longer held captive by her disease. She leaves behind her nine children, Cynthia Ray, (Daniel), Samuel Coate (Elizabeth). Marilyn Coate, David Coate (Teresa), Bruce Coate (Hoa), Ann Sokol (Jonathan), Paul Coate, Lisa Rohwer (Jim), Dawn Bonsall (Jeff) and eleven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.