Esther Marie (Thompson) Spears, 95, of Pierre, SD, entered the Spirit World on Monday, February 22, 2021, where we know she was welcomed by all of her family. She was a very spiritual woman in her Native American religion.

Visitation will be from 12:00pm until 1:00pm on Monday, March 1^st at Isburg Funeral Chapel in Pierre. A graveside committal will take place at 2:00pm on Monday, March 1^st at Fort George Cemetery. For those unable to attend the graveside committal, it can be viewed at the top of this page.

Esther was born at home on March 30, 1925 to Benjamin and Ruth (Walton) Thompson. She grew up and attended elementary school at Fort George. She attended her first two years of high school in Fort Pierre and then finished high school in Chamberlain. She spent the next two years working on the family ranch with her parents. During World War II she rolled up her sleeves and, just like the iconic “Rosie the Riveter,” went to San Diego to help with the war effort. She returned to South Dakota in 1946 where she met and married Norman Spears. Together they had 6 children. They raised their family in Presho.  Esther eventually moved to Pierre and worked as a cook at Pierre Indian Learning Center for 25 years. She spent her retirement years in Pierre, enjoying her family. Esther was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary.

Esther was a great cook and spent a lot of time canning.  She enjoyed reading, horse races and rodeos. She loved dancing, singing and playing the piano. Her biggest joy was raising her children and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

In 1971, when her 17 year old daughter, Kathy, needed a kidney transplant, Esther donated her kidney, which Kathy lived with for 46 years.

Esther is survived by two children: Brenda (John) Seeley of Pierre and Tammy (Curt) Friedrich of Aurora, SD, 20 plus grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, 4 children: Michael Spears, Patrick Spears, Daniel Spears and Kathy Spears as well as her 7 siblings: Benjamin, Joseph and Richard “Bill” Thompson, Wynona Long, Josephine Moore, Majel West and Arlene LaRoche.

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