Esther Dougherty Kristrom passed away on June 20, 2017, at Mother Joseph Care Center in Olympia, Wash. Esther had lived in Hoquiam and Aberdeen, Wash. since 1946, prior to moving to Olympia eight years ago. She was very active in the Saron Lutheran Church in Hoquiam.

Esther was born on Aug. 21, 1920, in Grygla, Minn. to Peter A. Nordby and Berthea Bye. She and her husband, Wesley, lived several years in the Grygla, Minn. area before moving permanently to Hoquiam, Wash.

Esther loved music and played the piano by ear along with several other instruments. She also enjoyed going dancing with Victor and Claus. Esther was a very special person to her family and lived her life to do good deeds and help others. She was always full of life, spread joy with people around her and was loved by all who knew her. She was an angel on earth.

She is survived by her two children, Don (Judy) Dougherty of Hoquiam and Virginia Hessler of Olympia; one sister, Alice Hylland of Spokane; her grandchildren, Shelly (Pete) Feneide of Ocosta, Lisa (Terry) Melton of Hoquiam, Dawn Dougherty of Hoquiam, Dan Griffith of Olympia, Christine (Gary) Berger of Sacramento, Calif. and Jim Griffith of Iowa City, Iowa. She is also survived by several great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Esther is preceded in death by her three husbands, John Wesley Dougherty, Victor Erickson and Claus Kristrom; her mother and father; six brothers; seven sisters and a grandson, Dirk Dougherty. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Donations may be made to Saron Lutheran Church Memorial Fund in Hoquiam.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the Sunset Memorial Park in Hoquiam.

Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary, 422 – 5th Street in Hoquiam.

Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on line register

at www.colemanmortuary.net.