Esther Lister (2012)

LISTER, STANLEY, HALL, KADING, SPEEDLING, COLE, JOHNSON, BRINK, LEMAR, HODGE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/23/2020 at 13:05:22

The Stuart Herald
Stuart, Iowa
February 2, 2012
Page 4, Columns 3 & 4

S. Esther Lister, 87, of Dexter, died Thursday, January 26, 2012 at the Sunny Brook Care Center in Adel. Funeral services were held Monday, January 30, 2012 at Johnson Family Funeral Home in Dexter with Pastor Dean Porter officiating. Musical selections included “Beyond The Sunset,” “Going Home,” “I Saw The Light,” and “Daddy Sang Bass.”

Bearers were Ron Lister, Charles Lister, Michael Lister, Dennis Lister, David Lister, and George Stanley.

Burial was in Dexter Cemetery, Dexter.

Esther was born November 4, 1924 on the family farm north of Stuart to George Raymond and Myrtle Hall Stanley. She was raised on the family farm and attended West Milton Rural School in Guthrie County. As a young adult, she left home moving to California to be close to her sister, and during this time was employed building P-51 airplanes during World War II.

In 1946, Esther moved back to the area and was united in marriage to Floyd Lee Lister on March 2, 1946 in Guthrie Center, and they became parents of five sons. After their marriage, they lived in the Des Moines area before moving to Dale City, north of Stuart. Esther’s married life was spent being a homemaker and raising her five children.

She was then employed at Diamond Laboratories in Des Moines for 10 years. In 1965, she and Floyd moved to Dexter to make their home. It was at that time they purchased a tavern in Dexter, and operated it for several years. After they sold this tavern, they purchased Neeters Tavern in Stuart, and operated it until its closing. She also served drinks at the Dexter Legion for a number of years.

Esther was an avid NASCAR fan and enjoyed watching Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr. She also enjoyed gardening, making her famous dill pickles, watching the Iowa Hawkeyes, western movies, and her favorite soap opera, The Young and The Restless.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Floyd in 1988, sisters, infant Mary Margaret Stanley, Louise Kading, and Marjorie Speedling, and two brothers, Gerald Stanley and Gene “Pete” Stanley.

Survivors includer her children, Ron Lister of Dexter, Charles (Beth) Lister of Earlham, Michael Lister of Adel, Dennis Lister of Dallas Center, and David Lister of Redfield; grandchildren, Monica (Jake) Cole of Van Meter, Renee Lister of Earlham, Scott Lister of Waukee, Stacy (Kent) Johnson of Waukee, Greg Lister of Waukee, Jeffery Lister of South Carolina, Dillon Lister of Urbandale, Owen Lister of Urbandale, and Megan Lister of Perry; great grandchildren, Bryce and Garret Cole of Van Meter; three sisters, Opal Brink of Omaha, Mildred (Joe) LeMar of Stuart, and Ruby (Harley) Hodge of Des Moines, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Johnson Family Funeral Home of Dexter was in charge of professional arrangements.