Esther Veldhuizen

Esther Margaret Veldhuizen was born on December 30, 1923, on her family farm in Troy Township, Minnesota, to Will and Anna Stueven. She attended a country school in Troy Township until 8th grade and transitioned to the Pipestone Area School and graduated in 1941. Esther went on to attend Stewart’s Beauty School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After graduating, Esther worked in a salon in Elkton, South Dakota, for a year before returning to Pipestone to work at Fecker’s Egg Company as an egg candler until 1943.

On May 5, 1943, she was united in marriage to Arnold Veldhuizen at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone. The pair moved to a farm in Woodstock, Minnesota and then, in 1954, to a farm northwest of Pipestone, where they raised five children. Esther enjoyed staying busy on the family farm. Some of her favorite pastimes were her garden, canning, and caring for the different animals on the farm. Esther and the family participated in the Hiawatha Pageant for almost 40 years. Esther and Arnold spent time RV’ing across the country and Canada. Her favorite destinations being California and Texas to visit family. 

In 2002, Esther and Arnold moved into Pipestone, but continued to help their daughter, Nancy, on the family farm. While living in town Esther delivered Meals on Wheels and continued to participate in events at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. In 2021, Esther moved to Ridgeview Apartments in Pipestone. She was admitted to the Pipestone County Hospice House on Saturday, November 2, after fracturing her hip in a fall. She died peacefully on Monday, November 4, 2024, at the age of 100 years, 10 months and five days.

She is lovingly remembered by her five children, Dale (Cindy) Veldhuizen of Fort Collins, Colorado, Barbara Veldhuizen of Kerrville, Texas, Nancy Hinricher of Pipestone, Minnesota, Larry Veldhuizen of Pipestone, and Mary Collins of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; five grandchildren, Kimberly (Mark) Zahorik, Creig (Ellery) Veldhuizen, Chad (Laurie) Veldhuizen, Jesse Hinricher, and Jessica Collins; seven great-grandchildren, Victoria, Colton, Parker, Ava, Lauren, Graysen, Max, and Tate; and her sister, Orline, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold Veldhuizen in 2016; parents, Will and Anna Stueven; sister, Lucille Bauman; and her three brothers, Herbert, Ervin, and Arnold.