Beloved mother and grandmother, Esther Etter, age 92, formerly of Adrian MI passed away Friday, November 21, 2025 in Arvada, CO with her family by her side.
She was born April 30, 1933 in Adrian, Michigan, the fifth of six children to Rev. Vance & Eva (Baughey) Miller. She graduated from Adrian High School in 1951. Esther earned her teaching degree from Michigan County Normal Training School in 1952 and started teaching in a rural school grades K-6 at the young age of 19. In 1960 Esther studied abroad at the University of Grenoble in France. In 1962 Esther received her Masters of Science in Education from Sienna Heights College in Adrian, MI and in 1967 a Masters of Arts in Teaching from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM.
From 1952-1963 , Esther taught in the Adrian, MI area at Round Top; Woodside School; Birdsall School; Clayton School. From 1963-1971 she was a substitute in Las Cruces, NM and Lisle, IL. From 1971-1996 Esther taught in Colorado for Jefferson County Public Schools at Swanson Elementary, Peck Elementary, Russell Elementary, Fitzmorris Elementary and Wilmore Davis Elementary. After 44 years of teaching, Esther retired May 1996, but continued working with children at church as a Sunday School teacher and Christian Education Director; she volunteered at her grandsons elementary school; and as a tutor for WHIZ Kids.
Esther married Willis Smith, co-owner of the Adrian Dairy in 1954. Willis passed away in 1958 of Hodgkin’s Disease. Her high school friend encouraged her to go on a double date with her oldest brother, Cecil Etter. The four went in Cecil’s small Corvair to the Michigan State vs Notre Dame football game and that was all it took, soon after Cecil asked Esther to “move” with him to Alaska where he was stationed for work. Esther immediately exclaimed, “Yes, I’ll marry you!” On March 30, 1963, Esther married Cecil in Adrian, MI.
Cecil’s job took them to Las Cruces, NM where in 1967 they welcomed their one and only child, Elizabeth (Beth) Ann and in 2003 Beth married Nathan Olsen. Beth & Nate gifted Esther & Cecil the title of Grandparents in 2007 and 2009 with the births of Chip (Nathan, Jr) and Noah. Chip and Noah were Esther’s pride and joy. She spent many hours reading, playing, having slumber parties with them, watching movies and attending their school and sporting events.
In Esther’s spare time when she wasn’t grading papers or enjoying time with her grandsons, Esther was an accomplished seamstress making beautiful drapes, curtains, blouses, dresses (including numerous choir outfits for Beth and her choirs), many of Cecil’s suits, etc.; she loved to crochet and knit; she played the violin, piano and organ; she often baked goodies for first time guests at church and made a roast with vegetables almost every Sunday to spontaneously invite friends over for lunch after church. Esther enjoyed several trips to Europe, Canada, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, as well as visiting many of the lower 48 states.
Esther is survived by her daughter, Beth (Nathan) Etter-Olsen of Arvada, CO; two grandsons, Nathan “Chip” Olsen, Jr. and Noah Olsen; and several nieces. She is preceded in death by her siblings and their spouses: Leslie Miller, Martha (Charles) Relyea, Vance Jr (Olive) Miller, Rea (Harold) Relyea, Albert (Mary) Miller, several nieces and nephews and her parents, all of Adrian, MI.
Visitation for Esther will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Wagley Funeral Home, Adrian. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM at the funeral home with Rev. Larry Betz officiating. Esther will be laid to rest at Palmyra Cemetery. A memorial Celebration of Life for Esther will be held in Arvada, CO at a later date.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.wagleyfuneralhomes.com
She was born April 30, 1933 in Adrian, Michigan, the fifth of six children to Rev. Vance & Eva (Baughey) Miller. She graduated from Adrian High School in 1951. Esther earned her teaching degree from Michigan County Normal Training School in 1952 and started teaching in a rural school grades K-6 at the young age of 19. In 1960 Esther studied abroad at the University of Grenoble in France. In 1962 Esther received her Masters of Science in Education from Sienna Heights College in Adrian, MI and in 1967 a Masters of Arts in Teaching from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM.
From 1952-1963 , Esther taught in the Adrian, MI area at Round Top; Woodside School; Birdsall School; Clayton School. From 1963-1971 she was a substitute in Las Cruces, NM and Lisle, IL. From 1971-1996 Esther taught in Colorado for Jefferson County Public Schools at Swanson Elementary, Peck Elementary, Russell Elementary, Fitzmorris Elementary and Wilmore Davis Elementary. After 44 years of teaching, Esther retired May 1996, but continued working with children at church as a Sunday School teacher and Christian Education Director; she volunteered at her grandsons elementary school; and as a tutor for WHIZ Kids.
Esther married Willis Smith, co-owner of the Adrian Dairy in 1954. Willis passed away in 1958 of Hodgkin’s Disease. Her high school friend encouraged her to go on a double date with her oldest brother, Cecil Etter. The four went in Cecil’s small Corvair to the Michigan State vs Notre Dame football game and that was all it took, soon after Cecil asked Esther to “move” with him to Alaska where he was stationed for work. Esther immediately exclaimed, “Yes, I’ll marry you!” On March 30, 1963, Esther married Cecil in Adrian, MI.
Cecil’s job took them to Las Cruces, NM where in 1967 they welcomed their one and only child, Elizabeth (Beth) Ann and in 2003 Beth married Nathan Olsen. Beth & Nate gifted Esther & Cecil the title of Grandparents in 2007 and 2009 with the births of Chip (Nathan, Jr) and Noah. Chip and Noah were Esther’s pride and joy. She spent many hours reading, playing, having slumber parties with them, watching movies and attending their school and sporting events.
In Esther’s spare time when she wasn’t grading papers or enjoying time with her grandsons, Esther was an accomplished seamstress making beautiful drapes, curtains, blouses, dresses (including numerous choir outfits for Beth and her choirs), many of Cecil’s suits, etc.; she loved to crochet and knit; she played the violin, piano and organ; she often baked goodies for first time guests at church and made a roast with vegetables almost every Sunday to spontaneously invite friends over for lunch after church. Esther enjoyed several trips to Europe, Canada, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, as well as visiting many of the lower 48 states.
Esther is survived by her daughter, Beth (Nathan) Etter-Olsen of Arvada, CO; two grandsons, Nathan “Chip” Olsen, Jr. and Noah Olsen; and several nieces. She is preceded in death by her siblings and their spouses: Leslie Miller, Martha (Charles) Relyea, Vance Jr (Olive) Miller, Rea (Harold) Relyea, Albert (Mary) Miller, several nieces and nephews and her parents, all of Adrian, MI.
Visitation for Esther will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Wagley Funeral Home, Adrian. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM at the funeral home with Rev. Larry Betz officiating. Esther will be laid to rest at Palmyra Cemetery. A memorial Celebration of Life for Esther will be held in Arvada, CO at a later date.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.wagleyfuneralhomes.com
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