GROTH, Esther 1904-1992

GROTH, HARTWIG, BLESS

Posted By: Karen L. Robertson (email)
Date: 3/16/2010 at 16:44:18

Funeral services for Esther Groth, 87, Austin, Minnesota, formerly of St. Ansgar, who died May 22 at Burr Oak Manor, were held May 26, 1992 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Harold Usgaard officiating. Burial was in First Lutheran Cemetery, St. Ansgar.

Esther Hannah Hartwig was born July 16, 1904 in Mitchell County. She was baptized at St. John's Lutheran Church, Cedar township, Iowa, and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church, Rock township. She attended Wartburg College for one year. In September 1925, she married Joseph C. Groth Sr. Together, over the next 40 years, they owned and operated a number of businesses, including a grocery in St. Ansgar, a movie theatre in Clarence, a doughnut shop and restaurant in Long Beach, Calif. and a general store in Minnesota. Moving to Austin in 1951, they owned and operated Harrison St. Grocery and the Corner Grocery on 6th Ave. After retiring from the grocery business, Esther, worked as a sales person at Mildred's Dress Shop and at J.C. Penney and Co. She was widowed in 1975. Esther's pleasant disposition and gentle ways won her friends wherever she was. She was secretary of the VFW auxiliary, volunteer teacher of the mentally retarded, a long time member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church. She was a member of Penney's Rejects.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Joseph Jr. and Nancy Groth of Tucson, Ariz; daughter, Janet Groth, New York; three grandchildren; two great grandchildren; one brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Esma Hartwig, St. Ansgar; one sister, Dora Bless, St. Ansgar; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Sr. and brother, Leo.

St. Ansgar Enterprise