Yellowstone County MT Archives Obituaries.....Thornton, Ether Marie Thornton December 10, 2010
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Janice Klafehn janiceklafehn@gmail.com November 24, 2011, 3:52 pm

 Billings Gazette, The (MT) - December 29, 2010
Esther Thornton

Esther Marie Thornton

Esther Marie Thornton passed away Dec. 20, 2010, at Autumn Springs Assisted Living
in Billings.

Born on April 21, 1918, on the family homestead at the top of the ridge between
Edgar and Pryor, she 
was the second of nine children born to Royal Jay Thornton and Mildred White
Thorton. She was 
preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and an infant sister. Surviving her
are sister Marjorie 
Houser and brothers Everett (Decima), Melvin (June) and Max.

The family moved to the Pryor Creek area in 1926, and Esther attended Morin School.
The 5-mile trip 
was made on horseback. Esther attended high school in Johnstown, Colo., graduating
in 1935. While 
there, she lived with an aunt and did housework for her room and board. She
graduated from York 
College, York, Neb., with a liberal arts degree. While attending the College of the
Pacific, she was 
initiated into the national music fraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda. After studying there
for two years, she 
returned to Billings.

Esther never married, but was very generous and outgoing. She befriended many folks
of all ages, 
especially those who were having problems in their lives. Music was a great part of
her life. She gave 
piano lessons for many years and was the organist at the Evangelical United
Methodist Church, where 
she was a member for many years. She sang in the Billings Municipal Choir and was a
member of the 
Billings Music Teachers Association. She continued to people who, or whose children,
had taken lessons 
from her.

One of the highlights of her life was a two-year stay in Chile, South America, where
she taught English 
in a local school.

She took care of her parents, making it possible for them to live at home until
their passing in 1979.

She loved playing games, such as Upwords, Scrabble and Flinch. Another highlight of
her life was the 
family reunion held every year on the Boulder River.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be held later. In lieu of flowers,
a donation may be 
made to the charity of your choice.

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