Esther Jessie Bultman was born in Oak Harbor on Dec. 5, 1921. Her grandparents were early Oak Harbor settlers, Jessie Bultman and Henry and Bessie Holtgeerts. She grew up on a farm in Swantown with her parents, Albert and Gertrude Bultman, and her two siblings, Bessie Mae and James Alvin.
Esther entered God’s Kingdom peacefully on March 11, 2011.
Growing up on the farm, Esther helped with chores while enjoying the view from a hill overlooking West Beach. She attended Oak Harbor schools where one year she won a prize for her handwriting. She graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1938.
After working at several jobs in town and in Everett, Esther attended Reformed Bible Institute in Chicago and Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduating in 1953. She began her teaching career at Ripon Christian School in Ripon, Calif. Working with fifth-graders, she especially liked teaching art and always read poetry to her students after they came in from recess. On weekends she enjoyed day trips with close friends including Marian Van Dyken, a fellow teacher from the Northwest. They happily anticipated spring jaunts to see the cactus blooming in the desert.
In the late ‘60s Esther returned to Oak Harbor to live with her aging mother. Here she taught school and worked in the offices of Island Title Insurance Co. and Whidbey Branch/Skagit Valley College. Summers often found her with a friend picking wild blackberries in the woods. Vacation trips for Esther included a cruise to Alaska and a tour of parts of Europe.
After retirement Esther continued to pursue her hobbies and interests. She enjoyed gardening, reading and bird watching. She enjoyed the companionship of her feline friends and usually watched Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy with her cat on her lap. Her team was the Seattle Mariners. Saturdays she and her friends, including Jo and Elsie Balda, had lunch together followed by playing games. She loved to picnic at the beach. Summer evenings at North Beach, Deception Pass State Park are a treasured memory for all her family.
Esther was politically savvy and served as secretary for the local chapter of the Retired Washington State Employees, a political action group. Her legislators’ phone numbers were close at hand.
Esther was a member of the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church her entire life except when she attended First Christian Reformed Church in Ripon. Before college she taught Sunday school at Dewey Beach Chapel. At the local church she served as church bulletin secretary and librarian and was a member of the Mission Circle and Coffee Break Bible Study groups. She wrote book reports for the church newsletter. She loved to sing the alto part in hymns old and new.
Esther was a loving aunt and great aunt to Jay Faber, Lorinda Faber Veltkamp, and spouses Eileen and Vic, Katie Faber, Mandy Faber, Chloe Veltkamp and Myra Esther Veltkamp, all Washington residents. Less close by but just as important to her heart were her Michigan niece and nephew, Lydia Bultman Frens, Tom Bultman and spouses Keith and Betty, great nieces and nephews Cathryn Frens Jorgenson and husband David, Kristin Frens and fiancé Neal, Mark Frens, Sam Bultman, David Bultman, Annie Bultman and great grand niece, Evelynn Travers.
Also surviving her are a loving brother, Rev. James Bultman of Holland, Mich., cousins in the Bultman and Holtgeerts families and friends near and far.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Bessie Mae Bultman Faber and husband Jake Faber, and her sister-in-law, Alida Bultman.
Aunt Esther lived a life dedicated to God as she worked and worshipped in His creation. Lovingly we rejoice that she is free from pain and spending eternity with her Lord. As her family we are grateful for the compassionate care provided by the staff of Regency on Whidbey and Harbor Care. A special thank you goes out to Dorris and Chris at The Homestead, who made her last weeks so pleasant and comfortable.
A Memorial Service for Esther Jessie Bultman was held at Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church on March 17. Preceding it was a graveside service held at Fircrest Cemetery. Pastor Randy Beumer officiated. Burley Funeral Chapel conducted funeral arrangements.
Memorials in Esther’s name may be given for the Oak Harbor Christian
School Education Foundation.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel. Family and friends may sign an on online registry or leave memories at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com.
