06/15/2026
Many of us will miss this lady!
Meet Esther Raugewitz-
Esther grew up with her family in North Dakota. She is 1 of seven siblings, and full Norwegian. The oldest, a sister was 15 years older than Esther and a best friend, a brother two years older who she was very close to. She lost her Dad at the age of 7, and she’s very proud of how strong her Mom was taking care of the family on her own. During her school years, she was very shy and didn’t participate in activities. At the age of 12, she can remember cooking and canning. The family canned a lot of fruit by putting the jars in the oven. Esther walked everywhere in -40-degree weather including the local roller-skating rink, church and to school. The family did not own a car, so walking was the transportation. Esther remembers many Christmases with sisters coming home, preparing Norwegian foods and singing Norwegian songs. After high school graduation in 1952, Esther moved with her brother to Texas and attended the University of Texas in Austin. After college she moved to Tuscan, AZ and taught school. Esther traveled to Emporia, KS to attend her brother’s wedding in 1959. She met a young man by the name of Dick, who was her brother’s room mate and co-worker for the railroad. It was love at first sight! They were married 6 months later in 1960 and moved to Topeka, KS. The wedding was small and the honeymoon was at a small crappy hotel in Kansas City. 😊 Esther left her wedding flowers in the car and they were frozen the next morning. Dick attended Washburn University to pursue his degree in teaching. The couple moved to Wellsville, KS in 1964 and Dick started his teaching career at Wellsville High School as a history/government teacher. Dick and Esther had three kids, Rick, Jolyne and Matt, 6 grand kids and 3 great-grand kids. Her smile brightens as she talks about her family. Esther was a stay at home Mom and home maker selling wedding and birthday cakes to the community. She recalls making wedding cakes for Colleen Neis and Lori Rogers. The worst part about making cakes was the transportation of the cakes to and from the destinations. After the kids were grown, Esther went back to work in 1981 as a teacher with the Wellsville School District. She talks about how hard a worker her husband was, often working three jobs at a time. The couple bought several houses to flip and rent along with property in Wellsville. She has since sold the properties and lives quietly on Maple Street and loves her neighbors. When Dick and Esther retired they and took many bus trips together. She recalls taking family driving vacations to California and South Dakota with the kids. Another highlight was the trip she took to Italy with Rick and Jo, Matt stayed home with a wife who was close to having a baby. Esther would like everyone to smile and give compliments to all that you meet. It is a purpose in this life to make someone feel better, because you never know the fight they may be fighting inside. She says she is lucky that her family “Let’s me be me!” and her advice is to keep your faith strong, because you are going to need it and to teach your kids a strong faith relationship.
