Esther Degel

10/17/1927 – 12/10/2024

Esther Degel

Esther Degel passed away quietly at her home in Bothell December 10th 2024.

She was born Esther Breimeier October 17th 1927 and grew up on her family’s farm in Otter Creek North Dakota in the country-side west of Bismarck.  Their community was mostly Russian-Germans  and German was spoken at home.  She was the 6th of 7 living children with one brother and 5 sisters and she helped out on the farm as the family struggled through the great depression and the dust bowl that impacted the country in those years.

She was baptized October 30th 1927 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Otter Creek, and confirmed April 6th 1941.  She moved to New Salem North Dakota with her mom and sister where she was able to attend and graduate from High School which was not a given in those days.

After High School she took and passed the state teachers exam and began teaching primary grades in small rural schools in the area.  She was very dedicated and, in the winter of 1949 when a snowstorm hit her hometown during a visit, she hired a 2 seater plane to fly her 50 miles back to Sanger where her school was.

In 1951 she was teaching in Glendive Mt  where she met John Degel her future husband on a double date with her roommate.  Esther and John continued to date and were married in Mandan North Dakota August 23, 1952.  She recalled John taught her how to drive which was a very exciting accomplishment at the time.

The Degel’s had 5 children between 1953 and 1964 and Esther was a dedicated full time mother.  In 1967 the family re-located to Bellevue Washington where John began a career in building and construction.  Esther did not teach in Washington, but enjoyed her years working for Sears in the Overlake area.

She was very intent her kids be successful and insisted we get good grades and go to college, and in fact all did graduate with degrees.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband John who passed away in 2005, as well as her brother and sisters.

After John’s passing in 2005 she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, participating in family holiday and birthday gatherings, gardening at home and quilting with a her church group at Christ the King Lutheran in Bellevue.  In 2014 she moved from the family home in Bellevue to Brittany Park Assisted living in Woodinville, then in 2017 to her final home at Legacy of Bothell Adult Home.  Her health declined slowly over the years and at the end she suffered from Dementia and other age-related ailments.  Esther was never a quitter and through it all she never gave up her love for chocolate !

She is survived by her children Linda Howard (John) of Bothell, Wa, Leslie Howard (Ed) of E. Wenatchee, Wa, Brad Degel (Karri) of Woodinville, Wa, Roberta Mancinelli (Chris) of Lakewood, Co and David Degel (Katherine) of Cashmere, Wa, 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

If you would like to make a donation in Esther’s name please make them to Easter Seals:  www.easterseals.com