Esther Laurine Bruce, age 98, of Rupert, West Virginia passed away on Monday, September 26 ^th, 2022 at Chippenham hospital in Richmond Virginia.  Esther was born August 13th, 1924, on the family farm in New Raymer, Colorado to Charles and Evelyn (Solomon) Hatcher.  At the age of 18 Esther married her sweetheart Bernie Carl Miller an Army Servicemen. To this union, 4 children were born: John, William, Martha and Mary. Esther worked for many years in Virginia as a seamstress and a homemaker.  After all the kids were grown Esther decided to leave the state of Virginia and Bernie and move back to Colorado. She quickly found work in a sewing factory in Greeley Colorado, she would walk 5 miles to and from work every day as she never got or wanted her drivers license.

In 1975 Esther married Ralph Bruce, her last love. Ralph passed away in 1992.

Esther was very involved in her Church where she would play the organ most Sundays, sing, teach Sunday school, lead bible studies, and plan and organize dinners for the Church. She was a devout Christian who read her bible every day and night and loved talking and teaching others every chance she got (several times while sitting on the bench at Walmart) about her Lord and Savior.

Esther loved to cook and bake, if you were at her house you would not leave hungry and she told you too "it's your own fault if you leave hungry". She made the best fried chicken, chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookies, baked banana bread, and her all time favorite was a dutch apple pie.   Other hobbies of Esther's were gardening (you could always have fresh strawberries or rhubarb), crocheting and sewing. She made the most beautiful doilies, doll dresses, table cloths, blankets, shirts and pants for herself and others.  She always had sewing to do as neighbors and family would bring their clothes over to have patched, hemmed, takin in, and she did it with joy!

Esther was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Evelyn Hatcher, her husband Ralph Bruce, Siblings, Charles (Chuck) wife Delores Hatcher, Wilber Hatcher, Lucille Hatcher, Harold and wife Alberta Hatcher, Eileen and husband John Wilson, her son John Miller, Daughter Martha Woodford, and grandson Timothy Miller.

She is survived by her son William Miller of Virginia, daughter Mary Miller of West Virginia sister in law Joanne of Greeley, Colorado Grandchildren Julie Miller, William Miller JR, Raymond Woodford, Cindy Woodford, Andrew Woodford, Virginia Henson, Tammy (Tom) Williams, Christina (Erick Benish) and numerous Great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sunset Memorial Gardens in Greeley, CO.