Esther Hicks Wegner

The life of Esther Wegner spanned the twentieth century and embraced the changes of the Pacific Northwest: from her birth in the Klondike gold mining town of Dawson, Yukon Territory, to recently surfing the Net at her apartment in Kirkland. Born in 1905, Esther was the daughter of Alfred Hicks and Rachel Bjelland Hicks, Klondike pioneers and gold miners. In 1906, the family returned to Washington State, where they pioneered the opening of the Yakima Valley to agriculture. There, Esther, her brother George, and sister Martha grew up on an apple ranch in Prosser and graduated from Prosser High School. Esther continued her education to become a teacher: first at Whitman College, then graduating from the University of Washington. After the death of the father, Alf Hicks, the family relocated to Seattle, settling in Lake Forest Park in 1932. Through a friend, Esther heard about a teaching job opening in the town of Bothell, and was happy to join the faculty of the Bothell High School. There, Esther became good friends with Marg Wegner, a fellow teacher, and came to know the Wegner family - especially Marg?s brothers Lute, Bud and especially Harold. After teaching at Bothell High, Esther went on to teach at Queen Anne High School. Esther and Harold Wegner were married in 1941. A chemistry graduate of the University of Washington, Harold took a job in San Francisco, and the young couple moved there, where they lived for forty-four years. During the war, Esther volunteered for the Red Cross. Following the birth of their son, Allan, in 1944, she continued her volunteer activities with United Way and the March of Dimes, and she was especially active in Cub Scouts. After Harold's death in 1965, Esther returned to part-time teaching, traveled, and also took courses at San Francisco State University. In 1985, after retiring from teaching at age 80, she moved back to Seattle; initially to First Hill, and eventually to Kirkland. Esther was known for her boundless energy and as a source of good-humor to the many members of the Hicks and Wegner families. Esther is survived by her son Allan Wegner, daughter-in-law Susan, beloved grandson Seth; and also by her brother George Hicks and her niece Beverly Reynolds Floyd.

She will be missed by all.