Eminent Homemaker
County: Lake
Esther Gross was born at Elkhorn, Wisconsin, on March 16, 1897. As a girl she lived in South Dakota and Montana. She married Ellwood Gross on Jan. 11, 1919. The couple lived in North Dakota for 10 years before moving to their present home six miles northeast of Madison which is the birthplace of Ellwood.
The Gross family consisted of seven children, six boys and one girl. The family was saddened in World War II when two of the sons, Emerson and Wallace, lost their lives in plane crashes in the military service. Kenneth graduated from State College and is now Extension dairyman at Washington State College.
Gordon is a dairyman-auctioneer in Montana. Lawrence graduated from State College and is now with a large milk corporation in Indiana. Their daughter, Marian Zoodsma, lives at Roswell, New Mexico. John, the youngest, also a graduate of State College is in Madison.
Gross has been very active in church and community activities. She and all members have always been interested in education and Extension work. She has been a 4-H Club leader for 10 years and has been a member of a Home Extension Club for 25 years. She was also Charter member of the Women’s Society of Christian Service, of the Methodist Church. She served on the official church board in Madison, and taught Sunday school when her own children were small. She also found time to be president of the Beadle PTA and took an active part in various fund drives. She is also a member of the Lake County Agricultural Board.
Gross’ advice to young farm couples is: Do things together. When children get old enough get them into a 4-H club, work with them and guide them into useful activities. If this is done, the future of South Dakota farm living will be bright and young folks will be more content on the farm.