Esther Helen (Lintz) Buethe

Esther Helen Lintz was born March 23, 1941 at the Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh, Nebraska.  She was the second child of five born to Raymond and Ruth (Schmidt) Lintz.  Esther attended Spring Creek District # 19 School, 3 miles east of the JCT of 136/50 northeast of Tecumseh, where she completed 8th grade.  She did not attend kindergarten, as it was not offered at District 19.  She was a baptized member of the Tecumseh United Methodist Church and printed the church bulletins during her high school years.  Esther graduated from Tecumseh High School in the upper 10% of her class.  She played saxophone in the concert and marching band and was a member of chorus, Y-Teens and pep club all four years. She also belonged to National Honor Society.  Esther was active in 4-H in her younger years.  When Kathy and Kim old enough to join 4-H, Esther became a leader for a number of years.

During high school, Esther worked Saturdays for Wherry Brothers Ford Dealership.  After graduation, she worked for the sewing factory in Auburn.  She then worked for the Johnson County Sheriff’s office for her uncle Wilbur Lintz who was the elected sheriff, at the Campbell’s Soup Company in Tecumseh and part time for the Tecumseh Bldg. & Loan.  In 1969, Esther started working for the Johnson County Welfare Department in the courthouse.  In 1974, she was appointed by the Johnson County Commissioners as the Welfare Director. In 1983, the county offices were consolidated and she became the Tecumseh Office Administrator and traveled between the Tecumseh/Pawnee City offices.  The State of NE then took charge over all the offices and the Pawnee City office was closed.  She was recognized as Employee of the Month in 1987 and the same year the name was changed to Department of Social Services and Esther was given the title of Supervisor of Johnson County.  She also became Income Maintenance Supervisor of the Falls City office, traveling between both offices.  In 1994, Esther was nominated for the honor of Supervisor/Manager of the Year.  She also had the pleasure of receiving recognition for 25 years of services and awarded an inscribed cup from the State of NE and presented by E. Benjamin Nelson, the governor.  She retired April 1, 1996, after 26 ½ years of government service. She was also granted admission as “Admiral” to “The Great Navy of the State of the Nebraska.” Her work history consisted of 30 years and 7 months of her married life. 

She was united in marriage to Eldon Buethe on April 17, 1959 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Elk Creek.  Esther became a confirmed member of St. Peter’s in 1959, prior to their marriage.  She was a member of the Dorcas Society and Altar Guild at St. Peter’s.  Eldon and Esther made their home on the family farm near Elk Creek, where they raised their three children, Kathy, Kim and Mike.  Esther and Eldon transferred their membership to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Tecumseh in 1995. Esther helped on Altar Guild for several years and became a member of the Memorial Committee in 2003 and served as Secretary/Treasurer for a number of years.  

Esther and Eldon loved to go dancing and playing cards with friends. Eldon and Esther moved to Tecumseh in 2013. Eldon passed away there on December 1, 2020.  They were blessed with 61 years of marriage.  Esther continued to live in their home in Tecumseh until moving to Lincoln in 2022. 

 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, 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. The service will also be livestreamed on the St. Peter's Lutheran Website for those unable to attend.  

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.