Ethel Garske Rance

Ethel Garske Rance, 92, grandchild of two pioneer families from Garske, ND went home to be with our Lord on Sunday evening, July 25, 2010 in the loving care of her family at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake. A Celebration of Ethel’s life will be held on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Reuben G. Schnaidt will officiate and interment will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery immediately following the service. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service and Time of Remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Thursday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Ethel will be Michael Conner, Douglas Paulson, Rudi Bloomquist, Arne Berg, David Ford, David Erickstad, Perry Garske and Scott Gerrells. Honorary Bearers will be all of Ethel’s dear friends and neighbors through the years. Music will be provided by Alta Bloomquist and Kevin Regan, vocalists and Lynda Pearson, organist. Ethel Garske Rance was born on January 14, 1918, at Devils Lake, ND. Her parents were Selma (Pulst) Garske and Harry Garske. Ethel attended grade school in Garske and Harding Township, School Number 4. She spoke German when she started school in first grade at Garske. She graduated from Webster High School in 1937. She attended Bismarck Capitol Commercial College from 1937 – 1938. On October 28, 1939, Ethel married Fred K. Rance Sr., who was a farmer and a teacher. They got married at the Scandinavia Lutheran Church at rural Webster and she was a confirmed member there until the church closed. Ethel lived in Harding township most of her life where she and her husband farmed and raised five children. They moved to Devils Lake in 1969 where they retired. Ethel served on the Harding Township board, and the Lake Region Heritage board. She was an active mother of the Webster School PTA. She was a member of the Lake Region Pioneer Daughters and the Rebecca Lodge. She also held many different offices in the Scandinavia Ladies Aid. Ethel was an avid advocate for people with disabilities. This is in part because she had polio when she was seven years old and her daughter, Sharon, was born with cerebral palsy. Ethel was one of the founders of the Lake Region Friends of the Handicapped. She served on the North Dakota Easter Seals board and was chairperson of the North Dakota Cerebral Palsy Council. She worked closely with Dr. Berg in making sure that Lake Region State College in Devils Lake was built to be accessible to the disabled population. Ethel was also a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and WELCA. She was a very active member of the accessibility committee at St. Olaf when plans were being made to put in an elevator. Ethel enjoyed crocheting afghans and quilting. History was interesting to her. She and her cousin, Amy June Pulst Mosbeck, were co-chairperson of the first August Pulst Family Reunion. Ethel also helped put together the Webster North Dakota History book. She enjoyed music and encouraged her children to enjoy it too. Ethel was an avid supporter of education. She and her husband worked very hard to make sure that all five of their children had a chance to earn a college education. Above all, Ethel’s faith inspired her always and she shared her faith with others. In one of her children’s Bibles, she wrote: “May you always remember Our Lord’s everlasting promises”. Ethel is survived by her daughters: Betty Jane Rushfeldt, Oberon, ND, Janet Sundberg, Jamestown, ND, Sharon Rance, Devils Lake, ND, and sons: Fred Rance Jr and his wife, Luella, Webster, ND, Everett Rance and his wife, Gloria, Devils Lake, ND; grandchildren: Wayne (Donna) Rance, Webster, ND, Heather (Ben) Nicholson, Lake View, MN, Crystal Rance, Minneapolis, MN, Chad (Wendy) Sundberg, Maple Grove, MN, Brian (Katie) Sundberg, Shakopee, MN; great grandchildren, Breonna, Colby and Braxton Rance; Ethan, Sarah and Aubree Nicholson; Morgan and Genevieve Sundberg; sister Mavis (Jay) Gerrells, Devils Lake, ND; brother Kermit (Glenna) Garske, Webster, ND. She joins her husband, Fred who passed away on April 10, 2000; mother and father; stepfather Hugo Garske; infant son Herman; brother Harry Garske Jr.; sons-in-law Glen Rushfeldt and Gary Sundberg and a dear family friend Dr. Beulah Hedahl.