Esther Virginia Afdahl, 95, of Spearfish, passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Edgewood Vista Assisted Living Center in Spearfish, SD.
Esther was born in Norfolk, VA to Luther and Martha Blassingham on February 18, 1930. She grew up riding her bicycle, swimming in the Atlantic Ocean at Virginia beach, and having fun with her brother. She graduated from High School in 1947 and attended Ward-Belmont College in Nashville, TN, until her mother’s health required that Esther move home to assist her. She met Robert Yeager and ultimately married him and to this union Cheryl, Rich, and Pat were born. In 1963, Robert passed away following a battle with leukemia. In April of 1964, Esther and Richard Afdahl (Robert’s half-brother) were married and to this union Curt was born. Over decades, Esther was employed as an Aide in a hospital, a restaurant Hostess, and was a valued member of the team at Thompson Drug in Faith, SD for over 20 years. And of course, she was always involved in the work on the ranch where she and Richard shared their lives for over 30 years.
Esther and Richard lived on their ranch west of Faith, SD until their retirement in 1997. After Richard passed away in 2020, Esther moved into Edgewood Vista in the spring of 2021 and almost immediately began to partake in Bingo, Bunco, and Wii Bowling. She had a wide network of good friends at Edgewood Vista and those nice folks and the wonderful staff at Edgewood Vista will miss Esther dearly.
Esther is survived by her two daughters, Cheryl (Jim) Heinzerling of HIghlands Ranch, CO, Pat Woolschlager of Jamestown, NY; her two sons, Rich Yeager of Lincoln, NE, and Curt (Renee) Afdahl of Metamora, IL; two grandchildren, Mandy Woolschlager Smith of Jamestown, NY, and Trevor Heinzerling of Frisco, TX; three great-grandchildren, Austin Lindell and Colin Smith of Jamestown, NY, and Brynleigh Hughes of Pekin, IL. Right up ‘til the moment Esther passed away, it is almost certain that she was more concerned about the well-being of her kids and grandkids than her own.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Luther and Martha Blassingham, her brother, Luther Jr., her spouses, Robert Yeager and Richard Afdahl, her son-in-law Bernie Woolschlager, and her grandson Eric Woolschlager.
Esther belonged to Hope Lutheran Church in Spearfish, SD and she greatly enjoyed attending worship service and most any other church activities. Over the past several years, her special friend Mary ensured that Esther attended in person when her health began to decline.
A Worship Service will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Hope Lutheran Church, in Spearfish, followed by a luncheon, with interment at 1:30 PM in the Rose Garden at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Esther V. Afdahl Memorial Fund, Hope Lutheran Church, 913 S. 34th St., Spearfish, SD 57783.