Mildred "Midge" Pearl Esser

Mildred (Midge) Pearl Esser, 86, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2026, in Lincoln, Nebraska.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Roper and Sons South Chapel (3950 Hohensee Dr, Lincoln, NE 68516). A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Service in South Dakota will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Reck Funeral Home in Miller. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at the Wessington Cemetery.

Mildred (Midge) Pearl Esser, 86, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2026, in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was born on October 2, 1939, to Maurice Jr. and Amanda (Walstad) Moriarty in Hand County, South Dakota. She had a wonderful life growing up on the ranch.  She graduated from Wessington High School in 1957.

After high school, Mildred attended cosmetology school in Sioux Falls, SD. Following graduation, Mildred and her sister, Dorothy, owned the Redfield Beauty Shop. She was a beautician for 52 years.

She married Don Esser on August 27, 1972, and they resided in Redfield, SD.  In 2011, Mildred moved to Lincoln, NE to be closer to her daughter, Sheila, and her family.  She was an active grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her family and sharing in their many activities.  Her hobbies included exercise classes, playing cards, and sudoku puzzles.

Mildred is survived by her daughter, Sheila (Elliot) Stevens; grandchildren, Noah Stevens, Samuel Stevens, and Paul Stevens; siblings, Helen Moriarty, Karen Haigh, Richard Moriarty, and Robert (Pat) Moriarty; along with numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by both of her parents, Maurice and Amanda, and her siblings, G. Ruth Moriarty, Donald Moriarty, Dorothy Steiner and her husband, Don Esser.

Memorials are designated to the Wessington Community Center.

Roper and Sons Funeral Home of Lincoln, NE (www.roperandsons.com) and Reck Funeral Home of Miller, SD (www.luceluzerreck.com) have been entrusted with Midge’s arrangements.