Esther G. Dahl, age 92, of Brookings, died Sunday, December 13, 2009, at Brookview Manor in Brookings. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, December 17, 2009, at Lake Campbell Lutheran Church, with interment in the church cemetery. Visitations will be from 4-7 P.M. Wednesday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings.

Esther Genette (Leite) Dahl was born April 29, 1917, near Bruce, South Dakota, to Gustav and Edna (Halsten) Leite. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at First Lutheran Church at Volga, where she attended Sunday School and was a member of the Junior Church Workers and the adult choir. She received her elementary education in Oakwood School District No. 51, graduated from Volga High School, and attended General Beadle College in Madison where she earned an elementary teaching certificate. She taught in schools in Deuel and Brookings Counties.

Esther was united in marriage to Virgil O. Dahl on June 29, 1941, at Volga. After their marriage they lived in Lake County. Esther became a member of the Lake Campbell Lutheran Church where she joined the Women's Missionary Federation, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and was a member of the ladies choir and the reading circle. She was a 4-H leader and taught lessons at the Farmers Union meetings.

Survivors include three daughters: Janet (Glen) Lee of Madison, South Dakota, Jeanne Mette of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Joanne (Ernest) Schroeder of Watertown, South Dakota; five grandsons: Steven (Kristan) Santema of Frisco, Texas, Jeffrey Santema of Madison, Richard (Wendy) Mette of Aberdeen, Michael Mette of Oldham, and Rory (Aimee) Amdahl of Brandon; ten great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; a sister, Clarice Kendall, of Sioux Falls; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 2007; a son-in-law, Collin Mette; five brothers: Ervin, Hartman, Gerhard, Carlton, and Marvin; and two sisters: Geneva Kiner and Viola Schoen.