FLANAGAN -- Esther Anna Rients, 84, of Flanagan died at 10:05 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 12, 2008) at Good Samaritan Home, Flanagan.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Petri Lutheran Church, rural Flanagan, with the Rev. Paul Lellelid officiating. Burial will follow in St. Petri Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Calvert & Froelich Memorial Home, Flanagan, and for one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be made to her church or the Good Samaritan Home, Flanagan.

Esther was born on May 27, 1923, in rural Minonk, the daughter of John H. and Johanna Doden Rustman. She married Uffa L. Rients on Sept. 28, 1941, at St. Petri Lutheran Church, rural Flanagan. He died on July 7, 2005.

Surviving are four daughters, Janice (Stan) Weber of Minonk, Joyce Aggertt of San Jose, Judy (Lynn) Messamore of Norfolk, Va., and Joan Rients of Flanagan; one son, Jeff (Patti) Rients of Flanagan; a brother, Harold (Minnie) Rustman of Streator; two sisters-in-law, Ardythe Rustman and Evelyn Rients; and a brother-in-law, Alvin (Irma Jean) Rients. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, Tom Weber, John Weber, Karen Conrad, Michelle Wiseman, Jennifer Aggertt, Kimberly Smith, Steven Messamore, Gale Frisby, Jay Rients, Jessica Rients and Jenna Rients; and 20 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son-in-law, Joe Aggertt; two brothers, Art and Glen Rustman; a sister, Bernice Koopman Marshall; and two grandchildren, Michael Messamore and Julie Ann Aggertt.

Esther was a baptized and confirmed member of St. Petri Lutheran Church in Windtown, where she was involved in the Mission Society, the WELCA and the Sewing Ladies. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and Happy Hour Home Extension and was also an Avon Representative for 25 years.

Esther and her husband, Uffa, lived on the family farm near Dana until 1994, when they moved into Flanagan. She was a resident of the Good Samaritan Home for seven and a half years with her husband until his death in 2005. During that time, Esther befriended both residents and staff and especially a younger resident who was terminally ill. She was presently president of the Resident Council at the home.

Esther enjoyed being a homemaker and a farmer's wife. One of her favorite past-times was sewing and crocheting for her family. Her faith and family were very important to her. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Her care and concern for everyone was always known. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.