Esther Lousie Warford (Hill)

Esther Louise Hill Warford went to be with Her Lord on Feb. 4, 2009 in Polson, Mt. She was born in Butte on June 10, 1923, the daughter of William James & Anna May Poole Hill. She attended school in Butte & after high school worked in Hennessy's department store as manager of the drapery dept. Esther married Roger Preston Warford on Sept. 8, 1946 in St. Patrick's Church in Butte. They had 4 children. She & Roger had a wonderful life together for almost 53 years until Roger's death in 1999. At the beginning of their life together Roger & Esther lived all over Mt. Butte, Msla, Ft. Howe's Ranger Station, Hardin, Miles City, Malta, Bridger, & Lewistown. Each of their children was born in a different town. After they returned to Msla in 1958 the two of them decided Msla was a good place to raise children & the family remained there for 34 years. Roger retired in 1978 & in 1992 they moved to their house on Flathead Lake. Esther was active in school & church organizations. She served as a Girl Scout & Webelos troop leader & as president of St. Anthony's Home School Organization & Altar Society in Msla. In Polson she was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church's Parish Council of Catholic Women & the St. Joseph's Hospital Service League. She cared for Roger & her parents through long illnesses at the end of their lives. While her children were growing up Esther remained home with them. She was a free-lance writer & for seven years wrote a weekly column, 'Just a Housewife,' that was carried in several papers of the Catholic Register system. She enjoyed playing both duplicate & party bridge. She attained the rank of Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League. While in Msla she & Roger enjoyed playing in a monthly pinochle club. In later years in Polson Esther enjoyed playing Panguingue ('Pan') with family & friends. Esther will be remembered for her smile, kindness & gentleness. She was always willing to lend a hand for work, an ear for troubles, a shoulder for rest, & arms for comfort. Esther is survived by her children Esther Anne (Ron) Sain of PA. James Roger (Jim) of CA, Teresa Faye (Teri) of Polson, & Mary Louise (John) Howard of Lakeside: her granddaughters Erin Elizabeth Sain (Shane) Rhoades of PA. & Jessica Nicole Holden of Msla: step-grandchildren Mark, Tami & Lindsey Haro of CA, her sister Mary Margaret Nickisch of Billings: sisters-in-law Nellie Dean Warford Kelly, Mary Warford Stabler, Jennie Warford, & Josie Warford Potter, as well as numerous nieces & nephews. Her parents, husband, & two brothers preceded her in death. In lieu of flowers it is Esther's wish that donations be made to St. Joseph's Hosp. or Retirement Community, Immaculate Conception Church, or charity of choice. There was a vigil service Sun, Feb. 8, 2009 at 1:00 pm in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. A reception was held on Mon. Feb. 9, 2009 at 2:00 pm in the St. Joseph Assisted Living Center at 11-17th Ave. East. A funeral mass & inurnment will be held this summer when all of her family & friends can join in the celebration of Esther\'s life.
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