Esther Maxine Stuke Holthaus, 91, of Seneca died on Sunday, September 13, 2015 at Crestview Nursing and Residential Living, where she has been a resident since December of 2007.

She was born on April 10, 1924 to Henry A. and Emma P. Roeder Stuke. She was raised on a farm east of Seneca with her two sisters, Virginia and Jeanette. She attended country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Baileyville High School in 1942.

On August 19, 1943 Esther and Adolph “Oddie” Holthaus were united in marriage at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. To this union one daughter and five sons were born. The couple enjoyed working and farming side by side; receiving the Kansas Banker’s Award for Soil Conservation in 1974 and in 1986. They were selected as the Nemaha-Brown Unit Farm Family of the Year in 1972. Esther and Oddie operated a Grade A Dairy Farm southeast of Seneca. Esther loved being a farm wife; helping daily with the farm activities, Esther was not afraid of hard work, milking until the age of 83. She enjoyed 48 years of marriage with her beloved Oddie, losing him to cancer on July 27, 1991.

She enjoyed playing cards with neighbors, gardening, canning, cooking and working livestock. Esther and Oddie enjoyed going to dances with friends, doing the Waltz and Polka. Esther was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. She was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Henry on April 23, 1974 and Emma on January 3, 1976; a daughter-in-law, Beryl Ann Holthaus on August 22, 2013; a granddaughter, Geraldine Mary Holthaus on August 5, 1973; a grandson, Kevin Joseph Holthaus on June 17, 1981; and a great granddaughter, Lily Louise Stallbaumer on May 31, 2008;

Esther is survived by her daughter, Beverly Ann Holthaus of Wamego, Kansas; five sons, Gary Holthaus of Onaga, Robert (Mary Jane) Holthaus of Seneca, James (Connie) Holthaus of Topeka, Keith (Jody) Holthaus of Holton and Steven (Connie) Holthaus of Seneca; two sisters, Virginia Sanders of Seneca and Jeanette Pinzino of St. Joseph, Missouri; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchild.

Rosaries will be prayed on Tuesday, September 15th at 2 & 7PM at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10AM on Wednesday, September 16th at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. She will be buried next to her husband in Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be left in Esther’s name to Sts. Peter and Paul School and/or Church, sent in care of the funeral home.