Ethel Walstad, 97

Ethel Adeline Walstad, 97, died November 27, 2011 at Knute Nelson in Alexandria.

Ethel was born November 8, 1914 in Kensington to Ezra and Margaret (Sundberg) Sarsland. Her father passed away when she was an infant and the family returned to Lobster Lake to live with Grandma and Grandpa Sundberg.

She attended various country schools, including Holmes City and Pocket Lake. Education was important to Ethel, as her mother offered her either a trip to Sweden or high school and she chose school. She graduated from Alexandria High School in 1933.

On November 12, 1936 Ethel was united in marriage to Irvin Allen Walstad at the West Moe parsonage. Within a few years after they were married they moved to his family farm, where she continued to reside after Irvin’s death in 1986 until a month ago, spending her last days at Knute Nelson in Alexandria.

Ethel’s church, family and home were her whole life. She was a loyal farm wife helping with milking the cows, and gardening and caring for her family. Anyone who visited at Ethel’s house enjoyed her wonderful baking and cooking. She was very active at East Moe Church from teaching Sunday school, to singing in the choir, to holding offices in the Ladies Aid. She also volunteered at Knute Nelson for more than 20 years in the coffee shop.

Ethel was loved dearly by all of her family and friends. She is survived by two daughters, Ruth (Dennis) Nagle and Elaine (Craig) Mounsdon; grandchildren, Gwyn (Jon) Dalum, Michael (Sharon) Goodwin, Monte (Deb) Mounsdon and Christy (Bill) Schmitz; great-grandchildren, Erika (Dan) Willprecht, Elise Mounsdon, Alexis Schmitz and Michaela, Lauren and Julia Dalum; also one great-great-grandchild, Colton Willprecht.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and sister, Mildred Foslien.

A funeral service will be held Friday, December 2 at 11 a.m. at East Moe Lutheran Church in rural Garfield, with the Rev. Donald Clifford officiating. The music will be provided by Susan Ronning and Wayne Classen. Interment will be at East Moe Lutheran Cemetery with Monte Mounsdon, Bill Schmitz, Jon Dalum, Michael Goodwin, Charles Foslien, Floyd Foslien, Myron Foslien and Dale Timm serving as pallbearers.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

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