Esther Marie Van House, 94, of Austin, died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.

Esther was born July 30, 1917, in Spring Valley to Edward and Anna (Naatz) Besterfeldt. After leaving Spring Valley, Esther moved to Cresco, Iowa. On June 17, 1939, she married Elmer Van House. Together they ran the Ku-Tee Shop, a children’s clothing store. After several years they sold the store and moved to Austin. After Elmer passed away in 1985, she moved to the Courtyard apartments.

In her spare time Esther enjoyed playing cards, reading, listening to music and visiting with friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Van House; two sisters and two brothers.

Esther is survived by her stepson, Charles (Evelyn) Van House, Austin; step-granddaughter, Cindy (Richard) Cimino, Boca Raton, Fla.; sister, Leona (Toni) Watts, Austin; nieces, Sheelah (Gene) Windfeldt, St. Cloud, Minn.; Mary Gilbertson, Austin, Geraldine Kamp, Austin, Beverly Kingen, Lynnwood, Wash.; nephews, Ronald Harrison, Milwaukee, Wis.; Harlan (Madeline) Harrison, New Brighton, Minn.; and Tom (Connie) Besterfeldt, Tucson, Ariz.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at Grace Lutheran Church with Rev. Jeffrey Forbes officiating. Interment will be at the New Oregon Cemetery, Cresco, Iowa. Visitation will be for one hour before the service at the church on Thursday. Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to Grace Lutheran Church.