Esther Margaret Maliske, 81, died Sunday, March 9, 2014 in Spearfish, SD.

Esther Margaret Feeney was born on April 27th, 1932 in Natick, Massachusetts to John and Margie (Sears) Feeney. Esther attended grade school at Center, Montville Maine and graduated from Walker High School at Liberty Maine. She attended and graduated from Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish, SD. She taught school in Searsmont Maine, Chance SD, Custer Peak and Norbeck School in Harding County, SD.

Esther met Thomas Ralph Maliske while teaching in SD and they were wed as husband and wife on December 27th, 1954 at our Lady of Victory Church at Vessey SD. They ranched and farmed near Ludlow SD in Harding County before moving to Spearfish SD in 1960. While running the "Farm" "Up North" (as we all grew up calling it) they had 3 children. Dennis (who ended up being delivered in Rapid City, SD) in 1956, Debbie 1958 and Melodie 1959 whom were both born in Hettinger ND. After moving to Spearfish they owned and operated a gas station, store and trailer court near Spearfish Park. Two more children were born shortly thereafter. Brian in 1964 and Shannon in 1967, both born in Spearfish. The family moved to a Ranch near McNenny Fish Hatchery on the SD/Wyoming border in 1968. The Family of seven lived there ranching, riding horses and growing up until moving "into town" in 1974. Tom and Esther bought an old farm house on St. Joe Street that they spent the next 3 years remodeling and transforming into the "Green House". Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday during the summer was spent listening to the Passion Play with thousands of cars streaming by each of those nights on their way out. In 1979 they moved to their final home together, the "Yellow House" on Lincoln Street (we were a very creative family, when it came to naming).

Esther taught Chapter One at West Elementary School in Spearfish for 23 years. Tom always kept the "Farm" and spent the year Farming the tilled ground and leasing the pasture land. The Family still owns the "Farm" and the boys go "Up North" to continue this tradition.

Thomas preceded Esther in death on November 28th, 1998. Survivors include one brother, John (Ann) Feeney and two sisters, Harriet Oxton and Rita Clark, all still residing in Maine; two sons, Dennis (Peggy) of Whitewood SD and Brian (Julie) of Rapid City SD; three daughters, Debbie (Sully) Simons of Beulah, WY, Melodie (Mike) Adams of Sioux Falls, SD and Shannon (Mark) Morgan of Spearfish SD. Esther and Tom were also blessed with 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will start at 11A.M. on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Spearfish, Vigil service will follow at 12:00 P.M. Mass of Christian burial will be at 1:00 P.M. with Father Tyler Dennis officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. A Memorial has been established to Black Hills State University Scholarship Fund.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Crematory Service of Spearfish.