Esther Delores Thompson

Esther Thompson, age 87, of New Ulm, MN and formerly of Saint James, MN, died on August 26, 2026, at Prairie Senior Cottages of New Ulm.

Visitation will be on Friday, September 11th, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James and continue on Saturday from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at the funeral home.

Funeral Service will be held at Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM.

Interment will be at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Saint James.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James.

Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Esther D. Thompson, daughter of Victor and Leona (Hoeper) Golterman, was born on February 4, 1939, in South Branch. She grew up in the Saint James area with her siblings. Esther married Paul Andrew Thompson on April 15, 1961, and they enjoyed 64 years, 11 months, and 23 days of earthly wedded bliss before Paul was called Home on April 7, 2026. Their union blessed them with their son, Wayne.

Esther worked various jobs as an adult. She clocked out of the regular workforce for the last time in 1991 when she and Paul gave up the city life and moved to the country to help Wayne raise his kids on the Thompson family homestead. In Esther's free time, she enjoyed embroidery, baking and cooking, gardening and canning, and watching I Love Lucy. She passed these skills and hobbies on to her grandchildren.

Esther was a member of the Saint James Eagle's club. She was also a Lifetime member of the Minnesota Trappers Association.

Esther is survived by her son, Wayne (RaeAnn) Thompson; grandchildren, Melissa (Robert) Hamsmith, Kimberly Thompson (Jared Landsteiner), Tyler (Stephanie) Thompson, Darren (Megan) Thompson, Caleb Thompson (Wylie Rollings), and Jackie (Cayson) Hill; siblings, Carl (Joann) Golterman, Betty (Golterman) Thompson, and Laura (Golterman) Tucker; 16 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Leona; brother, Bill Golterman; 5 sisters-in-law; 2 brothers-in-law, and her granddaughter, Jillian Thompson.

The family also wishes to extend a very special thank you to Prairie Senior Cottages in New Ulm for all of the love and care they gave to Paul & Esther over the past 10 years.