Esther H Kysar

Esther H. Kysar, 89, gently passed away in her sleep on May 20, 2025, and went to be with the Lord. A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Esther’s life will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church, 1919 North Second Street, Bismarck, ND. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. A live stream of the service will be held on the Corpus Christi website. All are welcome to attend and honor the woman who built the foundation for a family and community that will carry her love forward.

Born on a farm near Beulah, North Dakota, Esther was the sixth of eight children of Joseph and Eva (Weiand) Ziegler. She spent her early years speaking only German and attending country school until her family moved to Richardton in 1947. That’s where she first learned English, graduated from high school, and eventually earned her nursing degree from St. Alexius School of Nursing in Bismarck in 1957.

Esther was a caregiver through and through. She began her career at Capital City Clinic, then moved on to St. Alexius Hospital and Medcenter, where she found her true calling in the operating room, specializing in optical surgery. Her career spanned decades, and even when she retired in 1996 due to Meniere’s Disease, which affected her balance, she never stopped finding ways to care for those around her.

She married Robert Kysar in 1958, and together they adopted two daughters, Kim and Kelly. When their marriage ended in annulment, Esther found herself raising two girls on her own. She never expected to be a single parent, but she embraced the role with courage, creativity, and grit. She worked overnight shifts, stretched every dollar, hunted for bargains at garage sales, and somehow still made every holiday feel magical. She sewed clothes, tended gardens, cooked from scratch, and even helped build an addition to her house with her neighbor. There wasn’t much Esther couldn’t do.

Her Christmas parties were the stuff of legend. She baked cookies for inmates, gave generously to the needy, and created a nursing scholarship at the University of Mary to help others follow in her footsteps. After retirement, she found joy in staying connected to her community. She volunteered at schools and wherever there was a need including Corpus Christi food shelf, CHI St. Alexius, ND GOP and Dakota Eye Clinic. She liked being around people, and people loved being around her.

In 1984, a few of Esther’s nursing friends had a sneaky idea. They introduced her to Andrew Virnig, a patient where she worked. Esther and Andy had crossed paths before, but this time something clicked. They fell for each other quickly, sharing a deep love filled with travel adventures, card games with friends, and a blended life full of laughter and purpose. They married in 1999 and made a beautiful home together as grandparents and partners.

Esther is survived by her daughters Kim (John) Witthauer and Kelly (Ken) Koch; grandchildren Heather Koch Torres, Hanna Rae Koch (Nils Ehmke), Ava Witthauer, and Jack Witthauer; and great-grandchildren Kysar Torres and Ruby Ehmke. Esther was preceded in death by her husband Andrew; her parents; brothers Nick, Leo and Michael, and sisters Clara, Irene and LaVerne.

She was a strong woman who showed up for life every single day. She was sharp, hilarious, and stubborn in the best way. She was, simply put, a force.

We love you, Esther. Thank you for showing us what strength looks like. Thank you for the life you made possible. You’re finally getting the reunion you’ve waited for with Andy and your brothers and sisters. The cards are dealt, the games have begun, and you’re home.