Ethel Lewis

Ethel Lewis, 97, of Langdon and formerly of Calvin, ND passed away April 24, 2009 at the Maple Manor Care Center of Langdon, ND.

Ethel Marie Balgaard Sektnan Lewis was born April 4, 1912 at Grafton, ND to parents: Carl and Carrie Mae (Coates) Balgaard. Her mother, Carrie Mae, died during childbirth in 1914 along with an infant brother. Ethel and her brother Melvin stayed with their grandparents, Robert and Hannah Coates at Drayton, ND. Her Dad took them to Ashby, MN where his relatives lived. Carl re-married in 1917 and they had one daughter, Eleanor in April of 1917. Melvin lived with them and Ethel was adopted by her Aunt Emma (Balgaard) and Uncle John Sketnan. Emma Sketnan died in October 1920. Cousin Marie Nelson stayed with them through 2nd. Grade. Ethel then spent her years from 3rd grade through 6th grade living with various relatives and attending country school.

In 1925 when she was 13 she came to North Dakota again. She stayed with her Aunt Alma (Balgaard) and Uncle Conrad Helgeson. She worked and went to Grey school her 7th, 8th, freshman and sophomore years. As a junior she stayed with the Bill Porter family and attended Calvin High School. She also worked on the Lewis farm. She graduated from Calvin High School in 1931. In the winter of 1932-33 she stayed with her Aunt Florence (Coates) and husband Olie Uggerud in Grafton, ND. She met her mother’s family for the first time then.

On November 28, 1934 she married Austin Lewis in Langdon, ND. They lived on the Crummy farm and Carol Mae was born on May 21, 1935 at Calvin, ND. In the fall of 1938 they moved to Avoca, Iowa and Austin worked for Iowa Nebraska Transportation Company. They moved back to the Lewis family farm in the spring of 1947. While living and working on the farm Ethel became active in the Presbyterian Church in Calvin, the Rebecca’s, Eastern Star, and the Rainbow Lodge. In December of 1982, Austin and Ethel retired and moved in to Langdon. Austin passed away on February 8, 1986. Ethel was a basketball player herself in high school and had many stories to tell about those times. She continued to enjoy sports through her life following not only her grandchildren’s sporting events but also her great-grandchildren’s. She loved to listen to the local sports teams on the radio and enjoyed talking sports with anyone. Ethel became a resident of Maple Manor Care Center in July of 2007.

She is survived by her daughter Carol (Jerold) Badding of Langdon, ND, four grandchildren: Gary (Kathy) Badding of Langdon, ND; Karla (Doug) Romfo of Gilbert, AZ; Sheri (Pat) Keaveny of Bismarck, ND; Jan Badding of Grand Forks, ND, eight great-grandchildren: Jayla (Sam) Wheeldon of Fargo, ND; Brandon (Sarah) Badding of Langdon, ND; Becky Romfo of Fargo, ND; Kevin Romfo of Fargo, ND; Nicholas Keaveny of Fargo, ND; Jacqueline Keaveny of Washington, D.C.; Benjamin Keaveny of Fargo, ND; Michelle Myers of Grand Forks, ND, five great-great grandchildren: Maci and Jack Wheeldon, Cora and Aubrey Badding, Charlie Liz Zabasnik, brothers-in-law: George (Shirley) Lewis of Rock Lake, ND, Buel (Virginia) Lewis of Phoenix, AZ, sisters-in-law Thelma Kennedy of Avoca, Iowa and Una Mae Henricksen of Grand Forks, ND.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Austin, an infant brother, her brother Melvin Balgaard and step-sister Eleanor.

VISITATION will take place from 4 to 7pm Monday April 27, 2009 at the Brooks Funeral Home of Langdon. Visitation will also take place for one hour before the time of the services at the church on Tuesday.

SERVICES Tuesday April 28, 2009 at 10:00 O �Clock at the United Lutheran Church of Langdon, ND.

INTERMENT Corinthian Cemetery of Calvin, ND