Esther Martin, 106, of Gering, went to be with her Lord on March 5, 2022, at Heritage Estates. Her memorial service will be held at Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff on Tuesday, March 8th at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Rick Reisig officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Visitation will be from 12:00 p. m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Service will be live streamed on Bridgman Funeral Home Facebook Page. The family respectfully requests that in lieu of any flowers memorials in Esther’s honor may be made to the Scottsbluff Methodist Sack Lunch Program. Masks are greatly appreciated. Online condolences may be made by viewing Esther’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com.
Esther was born August 9, 1915 in Loveland, CO to John Henkel and Anna Elizabeth (Kampbell) Henkel. She was the second of five children. She received her schooling in Tunville, CO, Erie, Co and Longmont, CO. At age 17 her family moved from Colorado to Mitchell, NE where she met the love of her life Victor Martin who lived down the road from her family. On January 5, 1936, she married Victor and to that union two children were born, Beverly Jean and Judith Kay. Esther was a stay-at-home mom and wonderful homemaker.
She was a farm wife and always helped in the fields. She will always be remembered for her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens she raised each year while living on the farm. She was a devoted wife and mother. In 1974 she and Victor retired and moved to town. She spent her retirement years quilting, doing needlework and baking cookies and cakes, passing them out to neighbors or anyone who stopped by for a visit. She entered her flowers, vegetables, baked goods and needlework in the Scotts Bluff County Fair for 50 years and won numerous grand champion awards.
Esther had great faith in her Lord. In 2007 she moved to the Village at Regional West where she enjoyed the daily devotion hour, visiting with the other residents and playing cards. She was a member of the Salem Congregational Church for 86 years. She played in several card clubs through the years and loved to watch bowling and golf on TV.
Survivors include daughters Beverly (Kent) Greenwalt of Gering, Judy Spreier of Mitchell, grandchildren Lorenda Spreier of Powder Springs, Georgia, Troy (Lorraine) Greenwalt of Gering, Vicki (Randy) Burbach of Minatare and Scott (Deana) Spreier of Gering, great grandchildren Kaylee Spreier of Bozeman, Montana and Brittney Spreier of Gering, sister Kathryn Groskopf of Scottsbluff, sister-in-law Wanda Henkel of Scottsbluff and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husband Victor (2000), son-in-law Larry Spreier, sister Linda Dietz and brothers Raymond Henkel and Henry Henkel. Esther will be missed by all who knew and loved her.