Esther Dorthea Ellen Anna Tiedje

Esther Dorothea Ellen Anna (Luedders) Tiedje was born on May 29, 1914 in Girardy, Kansas to Henry and Klara (Rengstorf) Luedders. She grew up near Bremen, Kansas where she attended Bethlehem Lutheran School. Esther was the oldest of seven children and helped around the home and cleaned homes for some of the neighbors. In the late 1940’s, when jobs became scarce in Kansas, Esther moved to Omaha to work as a Nurse Aid at Lutheran hospital. One of her patients was Ernest’s father and in Ernest’s own words this is what transpired: There were many wonderful nurses and nurse aids in the old Lutheran Hospital at 25th and Harney. My father was a patient there and I spent a lot of time with him. At 33 I was nearly a confirmed bachelor. The Lord had other ideas for me. He has strange ways of working in the lives of those who trust in Him. I was in the habit of walking downtown in the afternoon to stretch my legs and get a little sunshine. One afternoon as I was taking off for downtown, I sawone of the nurse aids that worked on the floor where Dad was. She was standing on the sidewalk on 25th Avenue, south of Harney. She stood there not seeming to know what to do with herself. Probably no friends to visit or a country girl that hadn’t been in Omaha very long, just like me. I wouldn’t have been there either if my Dad hadn’t been in the hospital. I kept going downtown but prayed to the Lord, “if you want me to meet that young lady, please have her on the corner when I come back”. I fooled around in the Court House for a time. When I came back would you believe the same young lady was on the same corner? I just had to go over and talk to her. I don’t remember if I asked her to see a show or have a bite to eat. I sure remember what she asked me! She said, don’t you think we should go to church first? It was in Lent just before Easter. I don’t know what I expected, I was so surprised, but it sure suited me just fine! We went to First Lutheran Church at 31 & Jackson. We later enjoyed seeing shows, the fireworks at Fontenelle Park on the 4th of July. Lots of times we’d wind up at the May Fair on St. Mary’s Avenue and share a cantaloupe with ice cream and just visit. Sure was fun though. I have been thanking God ever since. I pray to God that she has too. Esther married Ernest Tiedje on May 29, 1949 at the First Lutheran Church in Omaha and they were blessed with two children: Ruth and David. Esther and Ernest have lived at several homes in Omaha. Esther was a homemaker and loved to tend to her flower garden and feed the cardinals. She loved to spend time with her family and treasured the times they could all gather together. Esther was very active in her church, enjoying the fellowship of her many friends. Esther passed away after a short illness on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at the Immanuel Fontenelle Home in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 98 years, 6 months and 2 days. She was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Klara, husband Ernest, brother Virgil Luedders and sisters Selma Osborn and Lillie Harries. Esther is survived by daughter Ruth Hansen and son David Tiedje both of Bennington; 3 grandchildren Kris (James) Roberts, Jenny Banks and Chari’ Banks and 4 great grandchildren Noah, Gavin, Ian and Ivy; brothers Arnold Luedders of Peoria, Illinois, Elmer Luedders and his wife Mary Ann of Beatrice, Nebraska and Wilmer Luedders of Washington State and a sister-in-law Patricia Luedders of Hallsville, Missouri.

Esther Dorthea Ellen Anna Tiedje

May 29, 1914 - December 1, 2012