Esther I. Ronshaugen, age 101, of Brookings, died Sunday, January 29, 2006, at Brookview Manor in Brookings, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, February 4, 2006, at the First United Methodist Church in Brookings, South Dakota, with interment in the Castlewood Cemetery, Castlewood, South Dakota. Visitations will be from 6-8 P.M. Friday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church building fund. Esther Irene Mitchell Ronshaugen was born August 17, 1904, in Volga, to Arthur S. and Flora (Axford) Mitchell, Sr. She spent her early years and attended grades 1-3 in Volga. When Esther was 8 years old her father passed away. Esther, with her mother, two brothers and one sister, moved to Brookings where she continued her education. Later she moved to Castlewood and graduated from Castlewood High School in 1922. She attended State College in Brookings and graduated from Aberdeen Normal School (now Northern State University) receiving her teachers certificate. Esther taught in many South Dakota schools including Webster, Toronto, White, Wallace, Oldham and Bradley. She was superintendent of schools in Brandt and Wallace, South Dakota, and was the first female superintendent and principal in South Dakota. Esther traveled and stayed in many towns teaching, but always came back to her parents home in Brookings which she purchased many years before. On June 19, 1927, Esther was united in marriage to Herman Ronshaugen in Brookings, South Dakota. Herman passed away on December 23, 1957, in Brookings, South Dakota, while Esther was librarian at the Minnehaha County Library in Hartford, South Dakota. She had taught for 35 years prior. In 2000 she moved to Prairie Crossings and in October 2004, moved to Brookview Manor, where she reside at the time of her death. Esther became a member of the First United Methodist Church a year after moving to Brookings. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the W.C.T.U. Esther always enjoyed life and was thankful for every day and every blessing. She loved visiting with her friends and collecting teddy bears. Survivors include several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, Arthur S. Jr., and Donald Mitchell, and one sister, Emma C. Parliment.