Esther Fries

Esther Fries, 85, of Bayard, died Monday, November 19, 2007, at Chimney Rock Villa in Bayard. Cremation was a Sunset Memorial Park Crematory in Scottsbluff. A memorial service will be held at a later date. A memorial has been established to Chimney Rock Villa. Esther was born June 22, 1922, at Scottsbluff, Nebraska to Frank and Margaret (Kaiser) Betz. On July 4, 1941, she married Herman Fries. She lived her life in the Bayard area. Esther enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening. Some of her favorite pastimes were playing bingo and table games. Her smile would light up the room. She was a member of the Faith United Church of Christ in Bayard. Survivors include her daughter, Virginia (Jerry) Engleman of Aurora, Colorado; son, Vern (Karen) Fries of Bayard; sisters, Marie Micheal of Bayard and Rose Micor of Denver; brother, Rueben Betz of Greeley, Colorado; granddaughters, Katie of Bayard and Shannon of Aurora, Colorado; grandsons, Christoper and Neil of Bayard and Scott of Fort Collins, Colorado; and 15 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Herman; her parents; sisters, Martha Valentine and Ruthie Newman; and brothers, Raymond and Leo Betz preceded her in death.