Ethel N. Nodland

ETHEL NELDA NODLAND, age 83 of Waseca, died on Monday, November 25, 2019 at Foxdale Senior Living in Waseca.

Born in Waseca on May 11, 1936, Ethel was the daughter of Alwin and Leona (Scholljegerdes) Helms.  She attended country school before graduating from Waseca Central High School with honors in 1953.  She then went on to Mankato State Teacher’s College and graduated with a BS degree in Mathematics and Education in 1957.  She was a math teacher, initially in Preston and then in New Ulm.  She married Gudmund Nodland on June 26, 1965 and they lived in Waseca on her family farm.  She spent the next 50 years actively dairy and crop farming with her husband on both her home farm in Waseca as well as his family farm in Steele county.  She was a member of the Farmer’s Union, the DHIA (Dairy Herd Improvement Association), the Waseca County Extension Group, and the quilting group at St. John Lutheran.  She found great joy in her family, children, and grandchildren.  She also loved to travel (having visited all 50 US states and more than 20 countries), quilting, genealogy, needlework, gardening and playing cards.  She had a strong faith and was active in her church, St. John Lutheran in Waseca, where she was a lifelong member.  She took on many roles at church, council president, active with the quilters, bible study, WELCA, ushering, etc.

Ethel is survived by her children, Mark (Joy Walker) Nodland of Eau Claire, WI, Ellen (Bill) Piepgras of Oakdale, and Brad (Sonja) Nodland of Eden Prairie; six grandchildren, Nikki, Ellie, Henry, Noah, Ingrid, and Kaisa; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband Gudmund; her parents, Alwin and Leona; her sister Evelyn Lee; baby brother Harold; two brothers-in-law; and one sister-in-law.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM on Monday, December 2, 2019 at Dennis Funeral & Cremation Services in Waseca, and will continue for one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at St. John Lutheran Church in Waseca, with Rev. John Omans officiating.  Interment will follow at Woodville Cemetery in Waseca. 

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