Esther L. Kirton, 87, of Apopka, Fla., and formerly of Huron, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019.

Her memorial service was held Saturday, June 29, at the Kuhler Funeral Home. Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Esther L. Hines was born June 8, 1931, to Truman and Helena (Ehlers) Hines at Stickney. She graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1949 and then attended the Wessington Springs Junior College during the summers of 1949 and 1950.

On Oct. 20, 1951, Esther married Robert Kirton at Pierre.

Esther started teaching in September 1949 at the Mortimer Country School. She taught at the Dale Center in Jerauld County from 1951 to 1952 and from 1954 to 1955. She taught the upper grades at the Broadland School from 1958 to 1960. From 1960 to 1963, Esther taught at Miner School, at Cain Creek from 1963 to 1964 and Riverside Colony from 1965 to 1987. She taught 18 years in Beadle County and then 17 years with the Huron School District. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association.

Esther is survived by her children, Robin Kirton of St. Paul, Minn., Sherri Holcombe of Apopka, Fla., and Theodore Kirton of Phoenix, Ariz.; nine grandchildren; seven great-granchildren; two brothers, Mel (Ky) Hines of Anchorage, Alaska, and Orville (Sue) Hines of Erie, Colo.; two sisters, Louise Shaller of Wessington Springs and Wanda Guttormson of Jamestown, N.D.; and one sister-in-law, Bertha Hines of South Sioux City, Neb.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert on Sept. 26, 2008; one brother, Wesley Hines; and one brother-in-law, Keith Shaller.