Esther Carol Thurlow, 81, of Fort Scott, passed away Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, at her home. She was born May 10, 1926, in Stirum, N.D., the daughter of Louis and Mildred (Hess) Hansen. Esther graduated from Mercy School of Nursing, in Williston, N.D., and worked as a nurse at Mercy Hospital. She met Bryan Thurlow while living there, and they were married Sept. 22, 1953, in Sidney, Mont. He preceded her in death Sept. 17, 2001. In 1956, Bryan and Esther relocated to Shell Lake, Wis., where they farmed until 1964. They then purchased a farm, in Kelliher, Minn., and she worked by his side. In 2001, following the death of her husband, partner, and best friend, she relocated to Fort Scott, Kan., to be near her daughter, and make beautiful quilts.

She is survived by a son, Jeff Thurlow and his wife Dianna of Kelliher, Minn.; Janneane Hazlip and her husband Frank, of Fort Scott; a daughter-in-law Rebekah Thurlow; seven grandchildren, Kerry Anderson, Dan Anderson, Ben Hazlip, Chad Hazlip, Trevor Hazlip, Pam Guenther, and Wesley Thurlow; and four sisters, Alice Fatland, Marvis Juedes, Kitty Hansen, and Phyllis Keller. In addition to her husband, Esther was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Gregory L. Thurlow, 1973, and Douglas B. Thurlow, 1996, and a brother, Howard Hansen.

Services for Esther will be under the direction of the Cease Funeral Home, in Blackduck, Minn., and she will be buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Kelliher, Minn. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.