Esther V. Boettcher, 75, of Brookings, died Sunday, August 31, 2003, at Brookview Manor in Brookings. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday, September 4, 2003 at Grace Lutheran Church in Bruce with interment at Elmwood Cemetery at Bruce. Visitations will be from 4-7 P.M. Wednesday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Esther Viola (Skovlund) Boettcher was born May 5, 1928, at Bruce, South Dakota, to Oscar Carl and Mabel Elizabeth (Holter) Skovlund. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Petri Lutheran Church near Bruce. On October 21, 1947, she married Lloyd Boettcher at Estelline, South Dakota. He died June 23, 1985. Esther was employed as a cook at the Brookings Middle School for nine years. She played the guitar in the Kjenslee Band and the Musical Tones. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, where she sang in the choir for 15 years. She was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church Women. Esther enjoyed cooking, growing flowers, watching the birds, fishing, and camping. Survivors include nine brothers and sisters: Olaf Skovlund of Bruce, Ellen Krogh of Brookings, Floyd (Louise) Skovlund of Brookings, Adolph (Marge) Skovlund of White, Ralph (Mary) Skovlund of Estelline, Audrey (Merle) Ulvestad of Bruce, Alden (Carol) Skovlund of Bruce, Gerald Skovlund of Bruce, and Harold Skovlund of Brookings; a sister-in-law, Donna Skovlund of Sinai; and many nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Kellie (Skovlund) Reeves, of Sioux Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sisters: Olga Hartley and Evelyn Harpestad; two brothers, Melvin and Leon Skovlund; and two infant sisters, Lucille and Audrey.