Koster Siblings - August, Fred, Harry, Bertha, Anna, 10 North 53 West



In 1900 Lincoln County, Nebraska, Fred Koester is farming, born March 1858, with Lena Sept 1861, both born in Germany. Mary Sept 1884 was born in Ohio, Fritz Nov 1888, August in August 1891, Alice Feb 1894, Herman Aug 1895, Henry Sept 1897, Bertha Sept 1899, Lizzie Feb 1887 were born in Nebraska and Anna Aug 1881 in Ohio.

Fred is widowed in 1910 Brookings County, South Dakota, 52, with Martha 23, Herman 14, Henry 12, Harry 8, and Bertha 10.
Fred is buried in Rock Island, Illinois, 1858-1925 per # 158010573, with Lena M. 1862-1903 # 34460997.


1941 Aurora, Colorado "Mrs. Wm. J. Pundt and daughter, Helen Walker, attended a delightful family reunion at the Henry Koester home in Cunningham district, on Friday, June 20th.
This reunion was unique in the respect that all members of the family were present, this being the first time they had all been together since 1907.
A delicious buffet chicken dinner was served, guests being Herman Koester, from St, Paul. Minn.: August Koester, Fred Koester and son, and Harry Koester, from Sterling. Colo.: Mr. and Mrs. Russell Slosser and family, from Gering, Neb.; (This is Alice Koester1893-1989 buried in Gering.)
Mr. and Mrs. Casey Weims, of North Denver: Miss Kathryn Wegner, of Denver (perhaps a daughter of Mary (Koester) and Frank Wagner): Mrs. Howard Wells and family, of Aurora. (This is August's sister Bertha Katherine Wells)
Following dinner, this large family. so happily reunited. played games of croquet on the lawn, and enjoyed a social evening, with music."


ANNA

Anna M. Koester had married Luther G. Walker on Nov 17, 1909 in Colorado.
In 1910 Denver, Luther, 28, and Anna May 27 have Anna's sister Alice Koester 16 living with them.

Luther and Anna had Alma on August 18, 1910 in Denver, who died as Carter on Deember 26, 1999.

Luther and Anna divorced in Colorado, and in 1930 Luther is in jail in Oakland, California.

William J. Pundt proved up a quarter in section 18, 10N 53W in 1914.

March 8, 1929 Aurora, Colorado "Mr. and Mrs. Pundt, who formerly lived at the John Townsend farm, have a ten-acre tract north of Grange Hall and built a lovely new home. They will engage in the Poultry husiness."

William J. Pundt, 44 and Anna M. 43 are in Adams County, Colorado in 1940, with Elma L. 19.

August 1941 " The residence and farm buildings at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. J. Pundt, east of Aurora, are being improved by new roofs and new paint. The severe hail storms this spring and summer damaged the roofs. The residence is being painted cream color trimmed with green, and the turkey sheds are a matching color. The barn is red, trimmed in white. Mrs. Pundt says the turkeys are doing splendidly, and are quite a good size now."

Anna is buried in Denver 1882-1973, with William 1886-1953.

May 19, 1953 "Funeral services for William John Pundt, retired Aurora farmer, will be held at 12:30 p. m. tomorrow at the Howard Mortuary. Burial will be in Fairmount.
Mr. Pundt died Tuesday of a heart attack at his home east of Aurora. He was 67. Born at Carpentersville, Illinois, and reared at Belvidere, I11., Mr. Pundt came to Colorado in 1906, homesteading 20 miles northwest of Sterling.
About 1917 he moved to Denver and spent six years working for the Union Pacific Railroad before returning to Sterling.
Mr. Fund came to Aurora in 1927 to raise chickens and turkeys until his retirement a few months ago.
He is survived by his wife. Anna M., whom he married in 1916: two daughters, Mrs. Alma W. Carter and Mrs. Helen W. Rasor, both of Denver; three brothers, John of River Forest, I11.; Arthur, of Belvidere, I11., and Leo of Detroit. Five sisters, Mrs. Lillian Johnson, Mrs. Pauline Seeburg and Mrs. Marie Hicka, of Rockford. Ill., and Mrs. Ida Mobeic and Martha Pundt, of Belvedere, Illinois, and one grandson. The bereaved family have the sympathy of everyone."

November 10, 1944 "Announcement has just been received of the marriage of Miss Helen Pundt to James "Rasnor", at Bellevue, Illinois, November 6, 1943. Helen is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. J. Pundt, living east of Aurora. She is u graduate of Wiiliam Smith High School, and following graduation was employed in Denver until leaving for Richmond, Va., where she made her home for some time.
Mr. Rasor is in the army, and is stationed at Scott's Field, Bellevue, Illinois. The young couple are now making their home in Bellvue."

FRED

Fritz Koester proved up two quarters in section 25, 10N 54W, Logan County, in 1914.

Fritz Koester, 28, married Kittie Edith Wells on Dec 13, 1917 in Sterling.

In 1920 Logan County, "Fritz" is farming, 31, with Edith 22, both born in Nebraska. Clifford 1 was born in Colorado, and Fritz's sister Bertha 20 born in Nebraska.

In 1930 Logan County, Fritz C. is 41, Edith K. 32, Clifford 11, Raymond F. 4,a nd Leonard G. 1.

In 1940 Logan County, still farming, Fritz is 51, Edith 42, Clifford 21, Raymond 14, Leonard 11, and Jimmy 4.

Fred 1888-1980 is buried in Sterling, with Edith 1897-1951.

"Funeral services for Lenard G. Koester of Padroni will be conducted 2 p.m. Thursday from Chaney Walters Funeral Home, the Rev. Tim H. Denton officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside cemetery.
Mr. Koester, 56, died Monday, April 15, 1985 in a Denver hospital. He was born July 19, 1928 in Sterl ing, the son of Fritz C. and Edith Wells Koester, raised in Logan Coun ty, received his early schooling in Prairie View School near Padroni, then Padroni High School, graduating in 1946. He helped his parents farm the homestead, 12 miles northwest of Padroni, until his Feb. 12, 1950 marriage to Helen Tadolini in Sterling.
The couple farmed and ranched the homestead until 1979 until semi- retiring and moving to Padroni. Their son, Douglas, now operates the homestead. Mr. Koester drove a school bus since 1967. He was a former member of the Padroni Community Church, a member of the Sterling Elks Lodge No. 1336 and charter member of the Padroni Lions Club and was a meniber of the luff Lions Club.
Mr. Koester is survived by his widow, Mrs. Helen Koester; a son, Douglas Koester, both of Padroni; two brothers, Jimmy Koester of Sterling and Raymond Koester of Pueblo and two grandchildren, Kasey and Ryan Koester of Padroni."

"Funeral services for Mrs. Hazel P. Koester of 526 Walnut will be conducted 2 p.m., Monday from Chaney Walters Funeral Home, the Rev. Dennis Sillaman officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside cemetery. Mrs. Koester, 85, died Thursday in a, Sterling hospital.
She was born Aug. 18, 1897, in Princeton, Ind., the daughter of James and Mary Lou Paul White. She received her early schooling in Indiana and in 1913 married Russell R. McDowell in Princeton and the couple moved to Sterling in 1916 where they operated a radiator and body shop for several years until moving to the West Plains area where they farmed until the death of Mr. McDowell in 1925.
Mrs. McDowell married Fritz C. Koester, Nov. 28, 1953 in Sterling and the couple farmed and ranched in the Padroni area, until retiring in 1964 and moved to Sterling. Mr. Koester died in 1964.
Mrs. Koester was a member of the Protestant faith, the Rebekah Lodge and the American War Mothers.
She is survived by a son, Verle A. McDowell of Engle wood; a daughter, Mrs. Marlys L. Zigler of Longmont; three step-sons, Ray mond Koester of Pueblo, Lenard Koester of Padroni and Jim Koester of Padroni; a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ellen McDowell of Munice, Ind.; eight grandchildren; four step-grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Chaney-Walters Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements."
ELIZABETH

"Arson" A. Burton, 20, son of Ale and Ida Burton, married Lizzie C. "Kaester" on April 16, 1906 in North Platte, Nebraska.

In 1910 Logan County, Orson A. Burton 24, and Lizzie 23, married four years, have Verda 3, Ethel 2, all born in Nebraska, and Amos one month born in Colorado.
Fritz "Kester" and Orson Burton had addresses of Westplains, Colorado in 1912.


October 1919 "Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Koester and O. A. Burton and family spent Sunday evening at H. D. Burton's."
" Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Burton of North Platte visited their sons O. A. and H. D. Burton last week."

August's sister Elizabeth (Koester) Burton is buried in Sterling # 40615836, 1887-1917.


Orson A. Burton claimed two quarters in section 24, 10N 54W in 1916.

O. A. Burton and Ellen Tucker married in 1920.


(Ellen's brother Robert Vernon Tucker was born January 12, 1914 at Atwood, Logan County.)

In 1930 Logan County, Orson is 44, Ellen R. 30, Amos A. 20, Ralph H. 17, Cody D. 15, Bradford O. 9, Wallace R. 7, Hazel A. 5, and Shirley M. 1.

1930 Bingham, Nebraska

In 1940 "Arson" 55 and Ellen 40 are farming in Phillips County, Colorado, with Bradford 19, Wallie 17, Hazel 14, Shirley 11, Ardith 9, and Ivan 4.

Orson is buried in Sterling 1886-1952.


February 1952 "Several neighbors and friends gathered at the farm of the late O.A. Burotn family with corn pickers, corn shellers and trucks to help harvest the corn crop. The men who helped were Harold Pond, VIrgil Kinzie, Gene Hutt, EWillard Hart, Ernest Livingston, Fred Heaston, Eldred Atkins, Ernie Stryker, Amos, Ralph and Laddie Burton, A. C. Heaston and Rev. W. O. Neff."

Ellen A. Burton 1899-1990 is buried in Denver # 22475550.

Verda Ida Burton and Harvey Earl Voris married in Phillips County on February 20, 1927.
She's buried in Haxtun 1906-1982 3 58616035, with Harvey 1894-1977.
In 1930 Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, Vern Craig is 27, Ethel 21, and Robert 1.
Harry Vern Craig died in Los Angeles County, California Sept 29, 1902- October 26, 1962.

Ethel A. (Burton) Craig 1908-1931 is buried in Sterling # 55545945.

Bradford Orson Burton 1921-1952 is buried in Sterling 3 40009396.

Wallace R. "Wally" Burton, 74, of Haxtun, died March 10, 1997, in Haxtun. The visitation will be today and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Tennant-Thompson Funeral Home in Haxtun. The fu eral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Tennant-Thompson. Burial will be at Haxtun Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in his name to the Haxtun Hospice.
Mr. Burton was born Feb. 4, 1923, to Orson and Ellen (Tucker) Burton northwest of Sterling. He moved to Haxtun at the age of four. HE attended school in Dailey, and graduated from high school in 1940. He worked sever al years at the Sioux Ordnance Depot near Sidney, Neb.
He married Agnes Etl on Jan. 22, 1946 in Holyoke. The couple then moved to San Juan, Texas, where he and his brother Brad had a radio and appliance shop. They returned to Haxtun in 1948, where he worked for George "Doc" McCullock, and later purchased Doc's equip ment. In March 1957, he bought the Standard Service Station, which he managed until 1989, when he semi-retired. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and cardgames.
He is survived by his wife Agnes of Haxtun; four children, Kent and wife Lynn of Paonia, Linday Coyne and husband Gerry of Loveland, Karen Burton and husband Mark, and Neal Burton, all of Loveland; seven brothers and sisters, Amas of Littieton, Ralphy and wife Evelyn of Haxtun, Hazel Burney of Denver, Shirley Larson and husband Leon of Mesa, Ariz., Ardith Albertson and husband Roy of Arizona, Lee and wife Gloria of Englewood and Gary of Arwa do; four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Ethel Craig and Verda Voris, and brothers Cody and Brad"

In 1940 North Platte, Nebraska, Cody D. Burton is 25, Mar M. 21 (he was in Box Butte County, Nebraska in 1935.) Mary . is 21, and Marilyn J. 1.

Cody Dale BUrton 1914-1996 is buried in NOrth Platte # 53946436, with Mary Maxine (Walden) Burton 1919-1985.


Amos A. Burton 1910-1997 is buried in Longmont, # 61711179, with Nyeline M. (Adkins) Burton 19224-1995.

Ralph H. Burton 1912-2000 is buried in Haxtun # 58925585, with Evelyn A. Burton 1915-2005.

A funeral service for Ralph H. Burton was held on Monday, July 17, 2000, at the Haxtun United Methodist Church. The Reverend Mike Bergman officiated the 10:30 a.m. service, with burial following at the Haxtun Cemetery.
Mr. Burton passed away on Wednesday, July 12, 2000, at the Heritage Living Center, Haxtun. He was 87 at the time of his death.
Ralph was born on July 13, 1912, at the Burton family homestead at Padroni. He was the son of Orson and Elizabeth (Koester) Burton.
During his early childhood years, Ralph attended school in the Padroni area. In 1924, the family moved to a farm in the Haxtun area. He continued his education at the Community Center School and later the Dailey High School where he graduated in 1932.
On October 27, 1936, Ralph married Evelyn Portenier. He had a great interest in farming and working with cattle. He loved to garden and especially liked growing watermelons and sweet corn which he shared with his friends.
Ralph also enjoyed music, playing cards, and family functions and activities. He was a member of the Haxtun United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn; a son, Reon Burton and wife Joyce, Haxtun; a daughter, Velva and husband Robert Clark, Las Vegas, Nevada; three sisters, Hazel Burney, Denver, Shirley Larson, Mesa, Arizona, and Eileen Alberton, Florida; and two brothers, Ivan Burton and Gary Burton, both of Denver.
He is also survived by nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Wray; two sisters Ethel Craig and Verda Voria; and four brothers, Amos Burton, Cody Burton, Bradford Burton, and Wallace Burton."

"Wallace R. Burton of Haxtun was born February 4, 1923 northwest of Sterling to Orson Albert "O.Z." and Ellen A. Tucker Burton. He died March 10, 1997 at his residence in Haxtun.
Wally moved northwest of Haxtun when he was 4 years old. He attended school in Dailey, graduating from high school in 1940.
He was employed for several years at Sioux Ordance Depot near Sidney, Nebraska. He was baptized into the Brotheran church.
On January 22, 1946 he married Agnes Etl and they moved to San Juan, Texas where he and his brother Brad had a radio and appliance shop. In 1948 they returned to Haxtun where he was employed by George "Doc" McCulloch, later purchasing Doc's equipment.
In March 1957, he purchased the Standard Service Station which he managed until the fall of 1989 when he semi-retired, and continued to repair lawn mowers and small engines in a shop at his home.
His hobbies were fishing, which he enjoyed mostly with his children and grandchildren, gardening and flowers, and playing cards and games.
Wally and Agnes celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year with their four children and four grandchildren in Loveland.
Preceding him in death were his parents, sisters Ethel Craig and Verda Voris and brothers Cody Burton and Brad Burton.
Survivors include wife Agnes; children Kent and wife Lynn Burton of Paonia and Linda Cone and husband Gerry, Karen Burton and husband Mark and Neal Burton, all of Loveland; grandchildren Daniell Coyne, Sage Burton and Dylan and Garriet Burton, all of Loveland; and other relatives Amos Burton of Littleton, Ralph and wife Evelyn Burton of Haxtun, Hazel Burney of Denver, Shirley Larson and husband Leon of Mesa, Arizona, Ardith and husband Roy Albertson of Arizona, Lee and wife Gloria Burton of Englewood, Gary Burton of Arvada and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Services were held Friday, March 14 at Tennant-Thompson Funeral Home in Haxtun. Burial was in Haxtun Cemetery."

HARRY

In 1920 Harry is a laborer in Brookings, South Dakota, 19, rooming with Byro and May Wilson.

In 1930 Sterling, Harry and Helen have Luella, 1.

In 1940 Sterling, Harry W. Koester is working at the Great Western Sugar plant, 38, born in Nebaska, with Helen 29 in Missouri. Luella 11 and Nancy 2 were born in Colorado.

"Harry W. Koester of Commerce City died Jan. 11, 1986, in Denver's Mercy Hospital after a brief illness. He was 84.
Services were Jan. 13, in Crown Hill Mortuary. Burial was in Crown Hill. He was born on Aug. 15, 1901, in Wellfleet, Neb. He attended school in Brookings, S.D.
Mr. Koester farmed near Padoni, Colo. He married Helen F. Feurt on Nov. 1, 1927 and they moved to Sterling. He worked for Great Western Sugar Co. for 25 years before coming to the Denver area in 1953. He retired from Gates Rubber Co. in 1964. He had lived in Commerce City since 1953.
Surviving in addition to his wife, are three daughters, Louella Mamuzich of Denver, Nancy Moncrief of Fort Collins and LaDonna Chriswell of Slater, Iowa; a son, Richard D. Koester of Westminster; two sisters, Bertha Wells of Aurora and Alice Schlusser of Glassco, Mont.; 10 grandchildren; and a great grandchild."

AUGUST
August J. Koester proved up two quarters in section 18, 10N 53W in 1917.

October 1919 "Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Koester and O. A. Burton and family spent Sunday evening at H. D. Burton's."
" Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Burton of North Platte visited their sons O. A. and H. D. Burton last week."

August is buried in Sterling 1891-1980, with Elfrieda (Kulbe) Koester 1891-1972 # 54833865.

"Stan Koester will celebrate his 90th birthday on Sat., Jan. 30, 2016. Stanley was born Jan. 30, 1926 in Sterling to August and Elfrieda (Kulbe) Koester. He farmed in the Sterling area most of his life. Stan is the father to six daughters, Sandy Malcomb of Cody, Wyo., Connie Walker (Randy Roth) of Green Valley, Ariz., Bonnie Anderson of Fort Collins, Peggy Hoff (Doug) of Greeley, Nancy Davis of Wheatridge and Sharon Smith (deceased) (Audie) of Sterling. He has 14 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren."

November 21, 1918
"John Carl Kulbe has suddenly severed earthly ties and gone to that land where friendships will never grow old. Padroni is today mourning one of her most popular native sons. John C. Kulbe died at the Sterling hospital Tuesday evening Novcmber 12, of the Spanish influenza after an illness of three weeks. At first he seemed to be recovering nicely. He suffered a relapse and was moved to Hotel St. Clair. He conlinued getting worse and was removed Saturday to the emergency hospital in Sterling. The end came Tuesday evening. Funeral services were conducted at 2 p. m. Wednesday at the grave by Rev. Ayres. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. H. Kulbe, five brothers, H. C. Kulbe, so seriously ill with the flu at the time of his brother's death that he was not informed of the fact until he chanced upon the notice of it in the paper; Wm. Kulbe now in service abroad: Charles Kulbe also ill with the flu: Max and Oscar Kulbe; also two sisters, Mrs. A. J. Koester and Miss Rosalie Kulbe. 1894m near Winston. Colo., whero his parents lived in the early days. The last six years he was employed by Harris Bros. store and later at the A. L. Johnson store as head clerk, where he performad his duties so cheerfully as to greatly augment their business. Last spring failing to pass the army physical examination he quit clerking and helped to do his bit on the farm. John Kulbe numbers his friends among his his acquaitance. He was liberal and unselfish to a marked degree. This generous unselfish disposition won for him many close friends. We shall not soon forget his genial face, the happy greeting for every friend. He was one of the most familiar characters so closely associated with both the social and business life of Padroni that his taking off leaves a great void. Our hearts ache at the parting. His untimely death is greatly mourned by a large circle of friends who tender sincere sympathy to the sympathy to the bereaved relatives."

Elfrieda Minna Kulbe and August J. Koester married on June 5, 1917 in Logan County.


June 1920 Padroni items "Mr. Koester returned to his home Monday after spending a fortnight with his children." This is probably Fred Koester, visiting sons Harry and August and daughter Lizzie Burton.

July 29, 1920 Padroni items "Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Kulbe and family and Mrs. R. Kulbe and children spent last Sunday, guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Koester."

August and Elfrieda don't have children in 1920 Logan County, but in 1930, both 38, they have Alice 6, Stanley 4, and Donald 2.

In 1940, August and Elfrieda have Alice 16, Stanley 14, Donald 12, Vern 9, and Leo 7.

"Vern 'Slim' Koester witnessed at age 13 a plane crash of a B-24 Bomber in 1944 northwest of Sterling."
"Runaway prop leading to engine fire in flight. Immediate action for fire in flight is to get on the ground or bail out. They were too low to bail. The aircraft descended and attempted a landing in the prairie near Flat Top Butte near Sterling Colorado. One engine departed the plane as it was nearly touching down. Molten metal was dribbling off the wing as the plane rolled down a hill and out into the flat. Tragically, the nosewheel caught in something and flipped the plane onto its back and it burned in place. "

"Since the RB-24 was a secret project being used as a training/test-bed for the B-29 gunnery system, the Army made an intensive effort to clean up the crash site. They went to the surrounding farms asking for any parts or souveniers which had been scrounged as well as picking up just about anything that could be seen with the naked eye. In 2006 when the CAHS, led mostly by Len Wallace and Duke Sumonia(who did excellent research to locate witnesses) attempted to find the site it took 2 trips and many hours for Brian Richardson to finally spot a piece of aircraft aluminum. This in spite of the fact that two different witnesses who saw the plane wreckage in 1944 took the group to the site and pointed to the area. It took metal detectors to find enough chips to plot the aircraft's final rollout and resting spot. The detectors found bits of frozen molten aluminum on the hillside in a pattern pointing to the final stopping spot where many, many more very small metal chips were located. A typical piece of evidence would be the head of a machine screw head or a torn rivet head! "

"Alice Green Shepherd of Fort Collins went to her eternal home on July 24, 2016. She was born on December 7, 1923 to August and Elfrieda Koester in Sterling, CO. She graduated from Sterling High School and Parks Business College in Denver and worked as Secretary to the Factory Manager of Gates Rubber Company until March 1950 when she married Leonard Green. The couple farmed and raised cattle in the Sterling area until moving to Fort Collins in 1963. Mr. Green died in February 1985. In December, 1987 she married H.C. (Clint) Shepherd who died in 1997. Alice retired from Poudre School District in 1983 where she was employed for 20 years, 14 of those years as Secretary to the Board of Education. While living in the Sterling area she was a member of the Padroni Community Church where she taught Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and served as Church Treasurer. In Fort Collins she was a member of the American Baptist Church for 26 years where she taught Sunday school, led youth groups and served on the Finance and Mission Boards. In October 1989 she became a member of the First Presbyterian Church and served two terms on the Board of Deacons, volunteered in many capacities and participated in Bible Study Groups. She was a member of the Fort Collins Business and Professional Womens Organization, a charter member of the Poudre R-1 Secretaries Association, a member of the Poudre Retired Employees' Association, the Norlarco Credit Union Board, The Salvation Army Advisory Board, AARP organization and P.E.O. - Chapter EB. Alice was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She is survived by three daughters, Janet Whitmire (Bob) of Jackson, WY, Joyce Pastors (Dave) of Charlottesville, VA, and Judy Green (Marilynn Scherer) of Parker, CO; three grandchildren, Alison Hunt (Kendall), Erik Graham-Smith and Adam Pastors; one great granddaughter, Emily; five step-grandchildren and five step-great grandchildren; four brothers, Stan Koester of Sterling, CO, Don Koester of Akron, CO, Vern Koester of Padroni, CO and Leo Koester of Kimball, NE; sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. Alice will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She was courageous, valiant, kind and generous to all, powerful in her humbleness and an inspiring follower of Jesus. "

Leo A. Koester and Jesssie King had Rodney Dean on 2/12/1954 in Colorado,l Rodney had married Brfenda and divorced in Kimball, Nebraska, and he married Loreen Zinda in Dawson County, Montaa on June 18, 1979.

Stanley A. Koester and Mildred Miller married in Sterling on Sept 4, 1947.
"Mildred M. Koester, 78, died April 14, 1998 in Sterling. Visitation and viewing will begin at 10 am. Thursday, April 16, at Chaney-Walters Funeral Home. Vigil service and Rosa will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16 at Chaney Walters Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 17, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with Father Bob Whipkey officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Mrs. Koester was born on February 27, 1920 to Edwin S. and Lucy (Rollinger) Miller in Iliff. She graduated from Padroni High School in 1938 and attended CSU and Central Business College of Denver. On September 4, 1947 she married Stanley Koester in Sterling. She was a bookkeeper at the Sterling Production Credit and the Sterling Community Federal Credit Union for several years. She also managed the Savomat for nine years. They resided in Padroni until 1974 when they moved to Sterling. She was a life-long member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church and belonged to the Altar and Rosary Society and Catholic Daughters. She was a former member of the Elks Does and an active member of the Elks monthly card club. Her hobbies included flower gardening and her grandchildren. She enjoyed music, playing the piano and guitar. She is survived by her husband: Stanley A. Koester of Sterling; six daughters: Sandie Malcomb and husband Jerry of Lakewood; Connie Walker and Randy Roth of Green Valley, Ariz.; Bonnie Compton of Ster ling; Peggy Hoff and husband Doug of Kersey; Nancy Davis and husband Steve of Fort Morgan; Sharon Smith and husband Audie of Sterling; one brother: Eddie Miller and wife JoAnn of Garrison, Mont.; 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Fred, Roy and Robert."

Donald Lee Koester was born on January 26, 1928, the third child of August and Elfrieda Kulbe Koester. He attended Rock Point country school for grades 1-4, and Prairie View in Padroni for grades 5-8. He graduated from Padroni High School as Salutatorian in 1945. The following year he drove a school bus from September until April and worked at the Padroni Service Station, which he owned and operated with his brother, Stan. Don joined the Navy in April 1946 and served until January 1948. He was stationed at Aiea Naval Hospital on Oahu for 18 months of his service. Following his discharge, Don worked for Junior and Betty Dickenson.
Don married Theresa Catherine Fehringer on September 8, 1949 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Peetz. They lived on a rented farm near Padroni. Don worked at the GW Sugarbeet Factory during beet harvest from October through December for three years. He also rough necked in the oil fields for about a year, all while tending to the farm he was living on.
Don and Theresa moved to the ranch they occupied until just recently on December 8, 1954. For the first ten years, they worked the ranch for shares with the owner Ed Tunison. They purchased the ranch from Mr. Tunison in 1964. Don and Theresa built all the buildings on the ranch except the barns. They built the current house in 1966.
Don joined the Sterling Elks Lodge in 1960 and enjoyed taking the kids to the swimming pool there. He served on the advisory boards of the Livestock Extension and CSU Research Center. He also served on the Buffalo RE4j school board for several years. Don enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren participate in their school and sports activities. His favorite thing to do, even in his later years, was work on the farm and ranch with his son, Dave. He loved to be out with his cows, going to the sale barn, and playing cards.
Don is survived by his wife, Theresa; his children, Ken and Peggy Koester, Donna and Mike Blin, Ron and Deb Koester, Dean Koester, Dave and Luann Koester, and Trina and Jerry Bellendir; 14 grandchildren, and their spouses; 20 great- grandchildren; brothers, Stan, Vern (Slim) and wife Barb, and Leo; as well as many nieces and nephews and their spouses and families.
He was preceded in death by his parents, August and Elfrieda (Kulbe) Koester; his sister, Alice Shepherd; daughter-in-law, Jaci Koester; and several beloved brothers and sisters-in-law.
A Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 29 at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, with Rev. Jodie Harless officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Don Koester Memorial to be split between Denver Children's Hospital Pediatric Cardiology Unit and Omaha Children's Hospital Pediatric Oncology Unit, where two of Don's great-grandchildren are receiving lifesaving care.
Published in Akron News-Reporter on Mar. 28, 2019

Padroni items in the Sterling Advocate "Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Koester announce the arrival of a fine boy at their home December 4th, 1914."

Fritz Koester proved up two quarters in section 25, 10N 54W in 1914.