Esther Lucille
Esther Lucille (Lyons, Jensen, LaForme) Lott passed away October 18, 2014 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay, MN, where she had been a resident since 2011. Burial was October 25, 2014 at the Silver Creek Cemetery in Baudette, MN.
Born November 26, 1919 in Waldron, Indiana, Esther grew up in Chicago during the 1920’s and 30’s and had many exciting stories to tell about going to matinees to watch her movie idols and skipping work to go to baseball games at Wrigley Field.
Esther held a variety of jobs including live-in nanny, a bank credit reporter and a rose grader for a nursery. She loved music and singing. Esther studied operatic singing at the Chicago School of Music, sang in various church choirs and Sweet Adeline groups. She played piano and especially enjoyed playing the organ.
In1942, Esther married Glenn LaForme, who served in the Navy during WWII. After leaving the service they lived in Lombard, Illinois, where he worked as a tool and die maker. Together they had five children, Allen LaForme, deceased, Todd LaForme of Chicago, a third son, name unknown and a set of twins that died in infancy. Glenn passed away in 1969.
Esther enjoyed traveling and in 1969 drove the unpaved Alaska-Canadian Highway to Alaska by herself. She always referred to herself as a traveler, not a tourist, and delighted in striking up conversations with people along the way.
In 1970, Esther moved to Baudette, MN where she met and married Everett “Johnny” Lott. There they farmed and raised Hereford cattle until 1998 when Everett passed away. Everett always remarked, “that for a city girl, she took to farming very well”. Esther helped with haying, calving and running the everyday operations of the farm.
Upon Everett’s passing, she sold the farm and moved to Bagley, MN where she lived for several years before moving to Fergus Falls, MN to live closer to her family, Maxine and David Adams and their children and grandchildren. While in Fergus Falls, she was active in the Senior Center and supported the Theatre Organ concerts at A Center for the Arts.
In 2009 she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and when she could no longer stay at home, went to live at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay, MN. She made many friends there and received the best of care.
Esther will be missed by her family and friends. Always curious about the world around her, Esther left a lasting impression on those who knew her. She is survived by her son, Todd LaForme of Chicago, IL and his children Darryl, Jeff and Brenda; step daughter Maxine Adams (David) of Fergus Falls, MN; grandchildren Kerri Westgard (Jeff) of Dilworth, MN; Jason Wall (Lindsy) of Buckeye, AZ; Heather Wall of Fergus Falls, MN; Travis Adams (Jamie) of Fergus Falls; Brandy Adams of Moorhead, MN; and five great-grandchildren Brenden, Abigail, Alyssa, Marleigh and Paxton.
