Esther "Mirth" Westburg slipped the bonds of this earth to enter the kingdom of heaven on May 18, 2025, in Fairfax, VA.  She was surrounded by her family as she peacefully passed at the age of nearly ninety.

A funeral service will be held at Miller Funeral Home Southside, Sioux Falls, SD, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.  Visitation will begin at Noon with the service at 1pm, followed by burial at the Dalesburg Lutheran Cemetery near Vermillion, SD.

Due to some technical issues.....The service will be recorded on the Facebook account of Kevin Westburg.

Mirth was born on the family homestead near Gettysburg, SD, in 1935.  She attended a one-room schoolhouse typical of the time in rural South Dakota.  Upon graduation from Gettysburg High School, she attended South Dakota State University, graduating with a degree in Home Economics Education in 1957.  While at SDSU, she met the love of her life, Gale Westburg, and they would be together until her passing.

As a 40-year high school Home Economics teacher, she taught in many locales, including Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas, and South Dakota.  She knew how to run a household like nobody's business, and it showed in the way she ran both the house and the Home Ec department!

Mirth was the proud mother of two sons, Kevin and Kyle.  Later in life, she was a devoted dog owner to multiple Shih Tzus, including Chinga, Ping Pong, and finally Pogo.  They were her near-constant companions and went everywhere with her, including on vacations.

After retirement from full-time teaching, Mirth and Gale travelled extensively, particularly enjoying a wide variety of cruises to various parts of the world, as well as taking driving vacations to nearly every corner of the US, whether for vacations or to visit her grandchildren.  The dogs were, of course, right alongside.

Mirth is survived by her loving husband of nearly 67 years.  She is also survived by her oldest son, Kevin (Kerri) Westburg of Fairfax VA, as well as three grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her younger son Kyle, her brother and her sister.

She will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society.