Esther Shenefelt Paul

Esther Shenefelt Paul, 89, passed away

on May 27, 2011 , of natural causes.

Born in Eureka on Aug. 8, 1921, to

Francis Shenefelt and Eva Baillargon Shenefelt, she grew up in

Eureka and the surrounding area. She attended area rural schools

and Eureka High School.

On March 23, 1940, she was married to

R. Clyde Paul of Whitefish and moved there to live. During the

World War II, Esther and Clyde lived in Portland, Ore. She worked

in the Kaiser Ship Yard as the only woman on an 18 man welder crew

welding the outside shell of liberty ships, which were used to

transport troops and war supplies.

After the war, they lived in Eureka and

Half Moon before returning to Whitefish in early 1949.

Esther started her 37-year nursing

career in Whitefish in 1949. She worked for five years at the John

B. Simons Hospital, and 32 years in the clinics of several

different medical practices in Whitefish. Several generations of

Whitefish area residents will have fond memories of Esther’s loving

nursing care.

Surviving Esther are two children,

Chrystal Paul Higgins of Whitefish and Richard S. Paul of

Fairfield, Conn.; four grandchildren, Kelli Higgins-Jones of

Whitefish, Shandi Higgins of Columbia Falls, Christopher Paul of

Darien, Conn., Matthew Paul of Westport, Conn.; and nine

great-grandchildren.

Honoring the wishes of Esther, there

will be no memorial service. A private burial will take place at

the cemetery in Eureka. Any memorials to the life of Esther should

be made to a charity chosen by the giver.