Thief
River Falls - Esther McKechnie, 94, died Friday, December 22,
2000 at the CNC unit of Northwest Medical Center in Thief River
Falls.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 8, at Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls with Father Tim Bushy officiating. Kara Larson was the organist, and Marie Nowacki was the song leader. Casketbearers were John Engelstad, Lawrence Hemmesch, Keith Maidment and Tim Miller. Burial was in St. Bernard's Cemetery in Thief River Falls.
Esther Adeline Brown was born on July 6, 1906 in Thief River Falls, the daughter of John and Mae (Dieffenbaugh) Brown. She was baptized and confirmed and attended school in Thief River Falls. Following school, Esther worked at Land O'Lakes. She moved ot New York City where she worked at her aunt's interior decorating shop for a short time.
On February 6, 1937, Esther was united in marriage to William LaFave in New York City. The couple made their home in Thief River Falls where they were very active in community and civic affairs. William died on November 6, 1972.
On July 6, 1980, Ester married Neil McKechnie in Thief River Falls. The couple resided in Thief River Falls and wintered in Homestead, Fla. After Neil's death on February 20, 1998, Esther continued to reside in her Thief River Falls home.
She was a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church and was active in its Guild.
She enjoyed gardening, interior decorating, spending time at the family's lake home at Round Lake, and especially visiting and spending time with granddaughter Shanna and great-grandson Erik.
Esther is survived by a daughter, Darlene (Neil) Tulene of Bryan, Texas; a son, Donald LaFave of Puposky; three grandchildren; a great-grandson; a sister, Margaret "Peggy" Brown of Thief River Falls; a brother, Kenneth (Verna) Brown of Seattle, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her husbands; a grandson, Billy Tulene; her parents; and two brothers, Roy Brown and John Brown. A00003B2000JA10