Esther Ruth Johnston

Esther Ruth Johnston, lifetime Longmont resident, died Monday, July 6, 2009 at Life Care Center of Longmont, where she had been a resident since October 2005. She was 91.Born on July 16, 1917 at her grandmother's home north of the city of Longmont, she was the daughter of the late Lee Everett Thorne and Grace Margaret (Dirks) Thorne. She graduated from Longmont High School in 1935.On November 22, 1937 she married Wilbert Lynn ""Hoss"" Johnston, and with her husband, maintained their farming business south of Longmont until they moved into town in 1956. She worked cleaning houses until her retirement in the 1960s.Following her husband's retirement from Golden Cement Company, Esther enjoyed extensive traveling with her husband, ultimately visiting nearly all 50 states with the exception of North Dakota and Alaska.Most recently, in October 2006, Esther was honored at the Longmont Elks Lodge Centennial Celebration. Her husband served as Exalted Ruler of that lodge in 1946 and she was celebrated as the oldest surviving First Lady of the Lodge.She was a longtime member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Longmont. Esther was preceded in death by her son, Wayne Lynn Johnston on December 6, 1964, her beloved husband in 1991, and her brothers, Robert H. Thorne and Donald L.Thorne. Mrs. Johnston is survived by her sister, Shirley A. Steele of Longmont; her grandson, Larry Johnston of Ishpeming, Michigan and Longmont, and numerous nieces and nephews.A funeral service will begin at 1:00 p.m., July 10, 2009 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Third Avenue and Terry Street, with the Rev. Paul Judson officiating. Visitation will precede the funeral by one hour. A private interment will follow at the Longmont Mountain View Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Lutheran Church, Longmont, Laradon Hall or the Marquette-Alger (Michigan) chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).