Ethel Hakenson

Ethel Ruby Hakenson, age 95, formerly of Herman MN passed away Thursday, January 24, 2019, at Bethany on the Lake in Alexandria MN.

Funeral services will be held Friday, February 1, 2019, at 11:00 am at the United Methodist Church in Herman MN. Burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Herman MN at a later date. Visitation will be held Friday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

Ethel Ruby (Belding) was born on February 5, 1923, in Herman MN to Alvord and Katherine (Lutz) Belding. She was the youngest of seven siblings. She was proud of her maternal French heritage and was quick to share who gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States. She met Melvin Hakenson, and they married on November 19, 1938. They started their marriage in Brush CO where their first daughter Peggy Lou was born. The three of them returned to the Norcross/Herman area to farm. They purchased their first farm, a Section, and built the barn and outbuildings. Ethel was a hard worker and worked alongside Melvin farming. She recalled flax being a new crop at the time, and it proved a bumper crop for the young couple. Their second daughter Patricia Ann was born in 1941. Ethel's 6-year-old cousin, Dick Lutz, joined them in 1950--making them a family of five. They raised horses and often rode together as a family. Ethel and Melvin sold the Section and purchased a farm near Pine Ridge Park/Dam. It was there that they built their first home-painted Redwood Red. It was particularly painful for all of them when Dick lost his battle with leukemia in 1963.

Ethel and Melvin retired from farming in 1972 and moved into town (Herman). Ironically, they built another home (Redwood Red, of course) just a few houses down from where Ethel was born/raised. Ethel kept the home and yard well-manicured. Because of her love of all reds, her planters were usually filled with red and white petunias and geraniums. Ceramic deer and colorful gnomes decorated the lawn.

They enjoyed vacations to Medora, the Black Hills and Badlands in North Dakota, Wyoming, Iowa & Canada. They particularly enjoyed rodeos! They deer hunted in Ranchester WY. When pheasants were plentiful, Ethel proved a good shot with her 16-gauge shotgun. In their later years, they made regular trips to sales in Waverly IA, where Melvin sold his customized silver-accented tack. Ethel was found buying, selling and trading antiques. Ethel and Melvin were married 55 years when Melvin passed away in 1993.

Ethel eventually agreed to give up home ownership (and mowing) and moved to the Pullman House-Herman. An Alzheimer's diagnosis created a move to Edgewood Memory Care-Alexandria. Ethel especially enjoyed her Friday outings to get her hair done and lunch oftentimes at the Brass Lantern. As the symptoms progressed, Ethel moved to Bethany on the Lake where she passed away the morning of January 24. Although the air was cold, the skies beamed with sunshine and sundogs.

Ethel will be remembered for her compassion for all creatures large and small. She especially loved birds. She could name each kind and was a constant provider to them. All homeless kittens and cats seemed to find her door. She also enjoyed collecting antiques-a passion she passed along to many in her family. She was happy, sometimes feisty, and always talkative.

Ethel's survivors include children Peggy (Wesley) Stahl and Patricia (Edward) Arneson; grandchildren Shelley Roscoe, Jackie (Dyrk) Eddie, Desiree (Mike) Hagen, and Chad (Judy) Arneson; and great-grandchildren Kelsie Roscoe, Cole, Carson and Chandler Eddie, Ashton, Beau and Chloe Hagen, and Devin and Jessa Arneson; nieces Myrna (Dick) Hufford and Kitty (Pete) Haug and families.

Ethel is preceded in death by her parents, husband Melvin, Dick Lutz, brothers and sisters: Florence Hadler, Clarence Belding, Adolph (Beulah) Belding, Helen (Carl) Miller; Martha (Miles) Flakker, Irene (Sylvan) Apland, and several nieces and nephews.