Esther Helen (Lintz) Buethe

Esther Helen (Lintz) Buethe was born March 23, 1941 at the Johnson County Hospital, Tecumseh, NE. She was the second child of five born to Raymond and Ruth (Schmidt) Lintz. Esther attended Spring Creek District 19 School 1st through 8th grade and graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1958. She was a baptized member of the Tecumseh United Methodist Church.

During high school, Esther worked for Wherry Brother’s Ford Dealership. After graduation, she worked at the sewing factory in Auburn. Then she worked at the Johnson County Sheriff’s office during the time that her Uncle, Wilbur Lintz, served as sheriff. Her other employment included the Campbell’s Soup Company and part time at the Tecumseh Building and Loan. In 1969, Esther began her career at the Johnson County Welfare Department. In 1974, she was appointed by the Johnson County Commissioners as the Welfare Director, and later became the Tecumseh Office Administrator and traveled between the Tecumseh/Pawnee City offices. In 1987, Esther became the Supervisor of Johnson County and Income Maintenance Supervisor of the Falls City office. In 1994, Esther was nominated as Supervisor/Manager of the Year and received recognition for 25 years of service. She retired April 1, 1996, after 26 ½ years of government service. She was awarded the “Admiralship” to “The Great Navy of the State of Nebraska.”

Esther was united in marriage to Eldon Buethe on April 17, 1959 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Elk Creek, NE. Esther became a confirmed member of St. Peter’s in 1959, prior to their marriage. She served as a member of the Dorcas Society and the Altar Guild at St. Peter’s. In 1995 they transferred their membership to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Tecumseh, NE. Esther served on the Altar Guild and as a member of the Memorial Committee and served as the Secretary/Treasurer for a number of years.

Eldon and Esther raised their three children on the Buethe Family Farm. Esther not only worked away from home, but also worked as a farm wife and had a large garden. Esther served as a 4-H Leader for her daughters for a number of years. In 2013, they moved to Tecumseh. Eldon passed away December 1, 2020, and Esther eventually moved to Lincoln, due to heath issues, in 2022. They were blessed with 61 years of marriage. Esther and Eldon were very proud of the Family Farm and the legacy they continued. They were equally proud of the family they raised together and immensely enjoyed time with their granddaughter, Nicole. Their great-granddaughters brought a radiating joy to her and she loved being known as their “Nana”.    

Esther passed away in Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday, May 2, 2025 at the age of 84 years.   

She is survived by her children, Kathy Butler and husband Neil of Lincoln and Neil’s daughter Susan Pinkerman and husband David, great-grandchildren, Miriya and Aiden, Kim Whitehead and husband Rod “Joe” of Lincoln and granddaughter Nicole and husband Aaron Bloemer, great-granddaughters, Delaney and Sterling and Mike Buethe and wife Linda of Tecumseh and Linda’s son Andy Wellensiek, sisters Dorothy Woltemath Scoles and Beverly Forrest and husband Alan, sisters-in-law Sharon Lintz and Millie Buethe, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. 

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, husband Eldon, sister Margie Farley and brothers and sisters in law, Ronald Woltemath, Gordon Scoles, Tony Lintz, Charles Farley, Milton and Anne Buethe, Kenneth Buethe and Donna and Del Zimmer.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 9, 2025 at the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, rural Elk Creek, Nebraska with Rev. Marcel Kohlmeyer officiating. A link to the livestream is here : https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=search&v=659043503601876

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 8, 2025 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska.

Memorials may go to the family’s choice.  

Inurnment will be in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Elk Creek, Nebraska.

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.

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