Esther Kaufman, age 94, resident of Devils Lake, ND, formerly of Lakota, ND, died Sunday, October 25, 2009 at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake .

Esther L. Spitzer was born March 9, 1915 at Ashley, ND, the daughter of Jacob and Maria Spitzer.  She was raised there, attended the Ashley Public School and worked at their family owned business.  Esther married Arnold Kaufman in 1940 at Fargo, ND; this union was blessed with three children.  They lived at Carson, ND, until moving to Lakota in 1947.  She enjoyed being around people and sharing her work talents at Gutting Drug Store, Nelson County Treasurer & Soil Conservation Offices, and the Lakota Dairy Queen.   Her son Ryan died in 1959. Esther devoted her life to her family, neighbors, friends and her church at Grace Lutheran in Lakota.  LWML (Lutheran Women's Missionary League) played a large part in her life, as she was a Charter Member and Officer attending many National Conventions.   Many years of teaching Sunday School and her Saturday nights were filled with her dedication to the Nursing Home worship services.  Arnold died November 3, 1976.  Esther continued living in Lakota where she was known as a fantastic baker.  She won many awards by cooking and baking from scratch with her strong German heritage.  Esther loved knitting and made many afghans throughout her life.  Warm weather she enjoyed as she spent many winters in California and Arizona.  Her vacation tour highlights were going to the Holy Land  and the Eastern States.  She moved to Prairie Rose at Lakota in 2002.  In the spring of 2009 she moved to the Odd Fellows Home in Devils Lake .

Esther will be greatly missed by her son, Kermit Kaufman of Lakota; her daughter, Sheila (Dale) Fisk of Doyon, ND; 4 grandchildren, Rochelle (Patrick) Collins of Auburn, NE, Sarah (Eric) Lee of Chisago City, MN, Ryan (Michelle) Fisk of Doyon, ND, and Aaron (Erin) Fisk of Enterprise, AL; 7 great grandchildren, Allison Anderson of Auburn, NE, Ashley Fisk, Elliot Lee, and Audrey Lee of Chisago City, MN, James Fisk, Brant Fisk, and Wesley Fisk of Doyon, ND; 2 step great grandchildren, Emily & Bailey Collins of Auburn, NE; and several nieces, nephews and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her son, Ryan Kaufman; and her husband, Arnold Kaufman; 5 sisters and 6 brothers.

Esther's Funeral Service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church of Lakota on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.   Officiating will be the Reverend Timothy Stout.  Interment will be in the Lakota Cemetery.  Visitation will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota on Friday, October 30 th beginning at 1:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.   Visitation will continue at the church on Saturday, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service.

Memorials are preferred to the Grace Lutheran Church, Lakota.