Thief River Falls - Ethel Westerlund, 90, formerly of Red Lake Falls, died Wednesday, August 30, 2000 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Memorial services were held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, September 1, at Johnson Funeral Service Chapel in Red Lake Falls with Rev. Tim Bauer officiating. Dawn Halvorson was the organist and vocalist. Interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery near Red Lake Falls.
Ethel Anna Valley was born on January 12, 1910 at Verdan, S.D., the daughter of Merton Richard and Dora (Rose) Valley. As a young child, she came to Red Lake Falls where she was raised and attended school.
On June 28, 1928, Ethel was united in marriage to Oscar Westerlund at Oklee. The couple farmed near Plummer for eight years before moving to Waukegan, Ill. They returned to Red Lake Falls in November of 1967. Oscar died on January 3, 1970. Ethel lived at Sunset Court in Red Lake Falls for a time and then moved to Arizona in 1994. She moved to Valley Home in Thief River Falls in 1997. Since January of 2000, she had resided at Oakland Park Nursing Home in Thief River Falls.
She was a member of VFW Auxiliary 2793 in Thief River Falls, Royal Neighbors and Heritage Center Band.
Ethel enjoyed quilting, sewing and crocheting.
Survivors include four sons, Vernon (Rolanne) Westerlund of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Alvin (Marlys) Westerlund of Waukegan, Ill., Raymond (Delores) Westerlund of Middle River and Roger (Lynn) Westerlund of Grand Rapids; one daughter, Darlene Larson of Thief River Falls; 16 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and four great great-grandchildren.
Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and three grandchildren, Jamye Westerlund, Stephen Derosier and Bruce Westerlund. A00003B2000SP6