ESTHER DOUGHERTY obituary

CHINOOK - Esther Dougherty, 81, of Chinook died Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, at a Chinook nursing home due to natural causes.

A funeral service will be Friday at 2 p.m. in the American Lutheran Church with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery.

Esther was born on Dec. 1, 1921, on the family farm north of Chinook to Martin and Gina (Halingstad) Monson. She attended local schools and graduated from Chinook High School.

She married Howard Dougherty on Dec. 1, 1939, in Chinook. Esther worked at the Dime Store and U & I Sugar Factory. The family moved to Sunburst in the early 1950s until 1965. When her husband died unexpectedly, she moved back to Chinook. Esther then worked at the Tastee Bite Caf, IGA grocery store, Blaine County Clerk and Recorders Office from 1968 until 1972, and was in the Clerk of Court Office from 1973 until 1986. She worked part time until 1993.

Esther enjoyed embroidering, for which she won many blue ribbons at the fair, knitting, crocheting, baking and taking care of other people.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Gina (Halingstad) Monson; husband, Howard Dougherty in 1965; brother, Melvin Monson; and sisters, Stella Cronk, Clara Chapman and Agnes Slonaker.

Survivors include her daughters, Darlene (Bob) Martin of Mesa, Ariz., and Linda (Larry) Hoover of Polson; adopted daughter, Donna Dyrdahl of Choteau; sister, Helen Monson of San Francisco; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.