Esther was born the daughter of Henry & Katherine (Janssen) Weets. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Esther attended Lime Lake Country School near Avoca. Esther and her sister Ramona took care of chickens and sold eggs to raise money, with which they bought a guitar. Her childhood dream was to go to Nashville and become a country singer. On March 23, 1947 Esther was united in marriage to Raymond Paplow in Heron Lake. Together the couple lived and farmed near Dundee until 1990 when they moved to Westbrook. On September 29, 2003 Raymond passed away. Esther entered the Fulda Nursing Home on September 30, 2009. On October 23, 2009 she moved to Westbrook Good Samaritan where she has resided since. Esther was a member of the Red Hat Society and long-time member of First Lutheran Church in Dundee where she was active in Ladies Aid, quilting club, and Bible study. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, and baking brownies, banana bread, and other wonderful goodies. Esther loved watching the boy's wrestling matches, Dundee boy's softball tournament, the Vikings and Twins. She also enjoyed fishing, cleaning ducks, geese, and bullheads, and comparing prices for grocery shopping. Esther loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Esther passed away Saturday at the Westbrook Good Samaritan Care Center.

Esther is survived by her children: James (Sherri) Paplow, Donald (Paula) Paplow, Linda (John) Madson, Ronald (Suzie) Paplow, and Lee (Tisha) Paplow.

Esther's siblings include Richard (Mabel) Weets, Rev. Raymond (Joann) Weets, Roger (Marcia) Weets, and Robert (Gail) Weets; and sisters-in-law: Lois Stark, and Alice Weets. She is preceded in death by her husband Raymond, and siblings Geraldine, Lawrence, Ramona, Henry, Frank, Marjorie, and Jerry.

Funeral services will be held at Wednesday from First Lutheran Church in Dundee.