Elizabeth (Betty) T. Esterl, 95
Elizabeth T. (Cosgrove) Esterl died Feb. 2, 2013, at Coeur d’Alene Homes Memory Care of complications of Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
She was born in Watertown, S.D., on Feb. 13, 1917. She attended Notre Dame Junior College in Mitchell, S.D., in 1938 and graduated with a two-year teaching certificate. She first taught in a one-room school house in Clark County, S.D. She met Oswald J. Esterl in Huron, S.D., and later married him, a 2nd Lt in the U.S. Navy, in 1943. Her first daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born in Huron in 1946.
After World War II, she moved to Orofino as her husband began a career with the U.S. Forest Service. Her son, David Joseph, was born in Missoula, Mont., in 1956. Her second daughter, Christine Linda, was born in Superior, Mont., in 1957. She suffered the death of one child, Louise Ellen, in 1951, when she lived in Clarkia.
Elizabeth (Betty) moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1966 with her husband and family. She attended Eastern Washington University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education, cum laude. She went on to teach at local elementary schools in Post Falls.
After retirement, she was active in the local chapter of Catholic Daughters, Our Lady of the Lake, holding various offices, including local Regent and State of Idaho Regent. She and her husband loved to travel, making frequent visits to their children, including Hawaii, Europe and Ireland. Her favorite hobby, however, was her only grandchild, Sean.
She is survived by her children: Christine L. Bailey of Lakeside, Mont.; grandson Sean Joseph Bailey of Lakeside; David J. Esterl of Port Angeles, Wash.; Elizabeth McCombs Haman and son-in-law Gary M. Haman of Coeur d’Alene; and nephew Kenneth Cosgrove of Mazatlan, Mexico.
A rosary for Betty will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d'Alene. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, at St. Thomas Church. Please sign Betty’s online guest memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.