Hester D. Burke, of West Jordan, age 85, joined her husband, John M. Burke, son John M. Burke, Jr., and daughter, Dorothy Lee Burke in their Heavenly home on Dec. 26, 1994, after a long ever-losing battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Born February 2, 1909 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma to Stella and Matthew Stringer. She grew up in Oklahoma and at age of 11, her father passed away and her mother was left a widow with 10 children, whom she had to put into the Masonic Home for Children, where she lived for about five years. She married John on September 4, 1926, they then moved to Denver, Colorado, where they spent the next 55 years. During that time Hester became very active in Colorado civic affairs, she was Democratic committee woman for 50 years. She went back to school and got her high school diploma and went on to became an LPN at St. Lukes Hospital. She was also president of the PTA for five years. She was a member of the Eastern Star, Amaranth and Daughters of the Nile. She served on the board for Rainbow Girls and Job's Daughters. But Rainbow Girls was her first love because she was the first girl initiated in this country.John and Hester spent many years after his retirement traveling and making friends. After the death of their son, they made their home in Utah, to be closer to their daughter and her family. They enjoyed their new home in Utah and their many friends at the Midvale Senior Center.
She is survived by her daughter, Pat Hauenstein, sisters, Dorthy Elder, Nora May Collinsworth, Mattie Faye Hamilton; son-in-law, Michael Hauenstein; daughter-in-law, Marian Burke; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services to be held in Denver Colorado. Call Jenkin-Soffe Mortuary, 266-0222 for information.
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