Obit: Christianson, Ethel Marie (1923 - 2017)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Christianson, Ille, Kaiser, Mautner, Muenzell, Shultz, Smith, Srsen, Vanderlinden

----Source: The Ladysmith News (Ladysmith, WI) 11/05/2017

Christianson, Ethel Marie (Muenzell) (7 APR 1923 - 1 NOV 2017)

Ethel Marie Christianson, 94, died at Prairie Manor Care Center on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017.

Ethel was born in Tony on April 7, 1923 to Albert and Mabel (Kaiser) Muenzell. Ethel and her brothers were raised on a small farm outside of Tony. In 1925 at age 2, Ethel lost her mother. Three years later, her father married Verna Vanderlinden.

In high school, Ethel was active in basketball, and president of the Girls Reserve. After graduation from Tony High School, Ethel worked at Sparta State School. She saved enough money to attend the Gale Institute and later the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis. Employment included secretarial work at Northwestern Bell and later for an attorney at Iowa Mutual Insurance Company.

Ethel played on two women’s softball leagues while working in Minneapolis. In 1952, Ethel moved to Tokyo, where she worked for the Civil Service for three years and was cleared for top-secret cases. Ethel traveled extensively through Asia and climbed Fujiyama. While in Japan, Ethel enjoyed figure skating, early morning tennis, golf, flower arranging and doll making.

Ethel returned to the states to work at IBM in Rochester, Minn. She worked as a secretary for the head of purchasing for two years. At age 35, Ethel was introduced to a farmer from Blooming Prairie, Ross Christianson. They married in 1959 and raised three children on the Christianson farm. Ethel helped with farming and enjoyed gardening. She volunteered for the Red Cross.

Ethel loved making fancy holiday ornaments and poured decorative plaster items for local shops. She loved going to the Austin Artist Series with dear friend Marj Christianson. Ethel and Ross were members of Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church.

She had a beautiful voice and sang for weddings and funerals. She was also secretary for ALCW and WELCA, and enjoyed quilting for these groups. Ethel re-entered the work force in her mid-50s, working as a secretary for the administrator of Prairie Manor Nursing Home. Ethel loved to travel, and every summer planned family trips throughout central, western and southern states and Mexico.

She enjoyed traveling to Alaska and Europe, and later fishing and paddle-boating at Lake Mazaska in Faribault. By adapting to many varied ways of life, Ethel had the ability to make everyone around her feel special.

Ethel is survived by her daughters, Renae (Jim) Smith of Prior Lake, Minn. and Holly (Steve) Ille of Blooming Prairie, Minn.; her son, Jay Christianson of Los Angeles, Calif.; her grandchildren, Carson and Paige Smith, Ryan Srsen, and Alec and Isaac Ille; and her great-grandson, Brody Srsen.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Mabel; her stepmother, Verna; her brothers, Wesley and Ernest; her stepsister, Nettie Shultz; her stepbrother, Clinton Mautner and her husband, Rosmon.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church. Memorials can be directed to Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church.

Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home.

Condolences: www.worlein.com.