Obit: Nulton, Rev. Ethel (1895-1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Nulton, Bemis

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (17 September 1983)

GREENWOOD -- The Rev. Ethel B. Nulton, 88, Sun Prairie, died Thursday in Waupaca. She was the first woman pastor to serve the Methodist church parishes in the Greenwood and Christie areas.

Services were this morning at Parfreyville United Methodist Church, Parfreyville. The Rev. Richard Pilgrim and the Rev. Virgil Nulton officiated. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Coloma.

The former Ethel Bemis was born May 4, 1895 in the twon of Dayton, Waupaca County, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bemis. She graduated from Waupaca High School and Superior State College. She taught school for two years at Rice Lake before going to Washington, D.C. where she worked for a year during World War I.

She was married to the Rev. C.P. Nulton August 25, 1920 in Birchwood. She began preaching when her husband became ill while a pastor at La Farge. He died November 2, 1949.

She served as pastor to the Greenwood and Christie churches from 1955 to June 12, 1960.

She was ordained in 1953 and ordained an elder in 1957. She retired in 1960 after also serving parishes in La Frage and Hammond. She had lived at the Bethany Nursing Home in Waupaca the past six weeks.

Survivors include three daughters, a sister, 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.