Ester Marie Cech Hein

Ester Marie Cech Hein died Feb. 3 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was born on Sept. 29, 1925, to James and Wilma Cech. She joined two older brothers, Amil and Orin.

She grew up in Montana and Oregon, and graduated from Grants Pass High School. She attended Biola University in California. She joined the Cadet Nursing Program and attended Whitworth University where she graduated with her degree as a Registered Nurse.

While at Whitworth she met the love of her life. She and Virgil married on Dec. 12, 1947. Together they raised four children: Melanie, Stephanie, Wendy and Joel.

They lived and worked the family farm adjacent to Crab Creek for 40 years before moving into Ritzville.

Ester continued her nursing career for almost 30 of those years at Ritzville Memorial Hospital, and Ritzville Medical Clinic. Many of those years she worked night shift so that she could be home with the children and help with the farm work.

There were always chickens to butcher, livestock to care for, meals to prepare for farm workers, laundry, equipment parts to pick up, and countless other duties to help the farm run smoothly. All this and driving 30-mile round trips to work as a nurse.

Ester was an excellent cook and homemaker. While she was not raised with or familiar with the German culture, she rapidly embraced it and became very skilled in the craft of making many traditional staples, including german sausage, cabbage rolls, runza and pfeffernusse.

She took sewing classes and became an accomplished seamstress and quilter. She found great joy in sewing clothes and making quilts, and was always on the lookout for special fabrics. She had a keen eye for matching patterns and designing quilt tops.

As a member of several quilt clubs, she provided hundreds of quilts for various charitable organizations over the years. She always had a large garden and raised beautiful vegetables.

Virgil was a big fan of all types of fruit, and would often make trips to bring home many varieties of fruit. Together they canned, froze and preserved both fruit and vegetables for the long winters. Visitors to the farm could always count on a dish of fruit and a plate of cookies, mixed with lively conversations.

Virgil died in 2010, after 63 years of marriage. Ester stayed in the house in Ritzville for one year before moving to Minneapolis. She lived very happily for almost seven years before slipping away on from this life to join Virgil on his birthday for eternity.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Amil Cech and Orin Cech, and husband Virgil Hein.

Ester is survived by children Melanie Hein, Stephanie Hein, Wendy (David) Knight, Joel (Helen) Hein; eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and many extended family members.

A celebration of life will be held at the Emanuel Lutheran Church, 206 South Division Street in Ritzville, on Saturday, April 7, at 2 p.m.

Donations can be made to Ritzville Lutheran Cemetery, or Emanuel Lutheran Church General Fund.