Esther M. Freiberg, the youngest of thirteen children born to Daniel J. and Mary (DeGonda) Freiberg, was born November 26, 1897, at St. Henry, Minnesota.

At the age of eleven, she moved with her parents to the Freiberg homestead located on Timber Creek in Meade County near Plainview, South Dakota.

She graduated from Huron High School in 1918 and attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Esther taught rural school in Meade and Pennington counties for nine years.

She was united in marriage to William Bielmaier on November 23, 1925, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, which was located on the Freiberg homestead on Timber Creek in the Pedro area.

They farmed and ranched in the Wall area until moving into Wall in 1956.

After their children were reared, Esther returned to her teaching profession and taught for thirteen more years, all in the Wall school system.

Her husband, William, preceded her in death on July 11, 1965.

During her retirement she made several trips overseas to Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, Mexico, and Alaska.

Esther continued to make her home in Wall until about two years ago when she spent time with her various daughters.  In November of 1987 she moved into the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood, South Dakota.

She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Church Altar Society.  She was instrumental in organizing the first 4-H club in eastern Pennington county.  She was active in the North Extension Club and the Wall Extension Club, as well as the Wall Book Club.  She was an avid oil, water, and china painter and had attended many shows and classes in the Wall and Rapid City areas.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son, William "Bill" Bielmaier, of Wall; five daughters, Mary (Mrs. Byron) Strandell of Rapid City, Dorothy (Mrs. Peter) Montgomery of Pasadena, California, Michaela (Mrs. Norman) Shyne of Bozeman, Montana, Esther (Mrs. Raymond) O'Dea of Big Rapids, Michiagn, and Delphia (Mrs. Harlan) Dirks of Washington, D.C.; 33 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband, William, she was preceded in death by one son, Paul, who died at the age of 16 months; her parents; and 12 brothers and sisters.

Mass of Christian Burial
Friday, February 19, 1988
10:00 a.m.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Wall, South Dakota

Celebrant
Father John J. Corry

Cross Bearer
Tom Strandell

Altar Servers
Kevin Bielmaier - Craig Bielmaier

Special Minister
Agnus Pivny

Readers
Jan Bielmaier - Raymond O'Dea Sr.

Gift Bearers
David Dirks - Angela Dirks

Eulogy
Barbara Strandell

Music
Dorothy Shearer - Organist
Lucille Holsether - Vocalist

Ushers
Wesley Welsch - Don Kelly
John Naescher

Active Pallbearers & Former Students
Gail Johnson - Mark Hindman
Bradley Estes - Richard Hauk
Rick Hustead - Mike Huether

Honorary Pallbearers & Former Students
Tom McDonald - Vern McDonald
Erving Helms - Bill Becker
Merle Crown - Jim Kalkbrenner
Don Pascoe

Interment
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota