Ethel Burkett, 89, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Sunday evening, November 10, 2013. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, a compassionate nurse, and a wonderful friend to all who knew her. We thank the Lord that her passing was peaceful.
Ethel was born on a farm outside Jasper, Minnesota on March 2, 1924 to Katinka and Thorvald Hagebakken. After graduating from JasperHigh School, she attended nurse’s training at SiouxValleyHospital in Sioux Falls, SD where she received her RN as a member of the Cadet Corps. She married Ernest Burkett in Sioux Falls on October 30, 1945. She provided hospital nursing services until together they began their small family. Ethel concentrated on child rearing and volunteer activities, primarily through her church and the children’s school until her youngest was 12 years old when she again went back to hospital nursing and gradually transitioned into medical clinic work.
Ernie and Ethel spent most of their married life in the Midwest until 1972 when they relocated to Phoenix, Arizona due to a transfer in Ernie’s employment with Honeywell. Ethel joined Ernie in retirement in 1985 and they enjoyed life together until his passing in 1989. Ethel continued to live in Phoenix for a total of 40 years. She devoted her time to her church and her senior living association, serving on the board several times. In October 2012 she moved to Helena, MT to be near her daughter.
Ethel loved puzzles, word games, Suduko, Bingo, and Scrabble along with her Bible Study activities. She remained physically fit up until her compression fracture this past July which led to the discovery of lung cancer and a limited remaining life span. Ethel is survived by her son, Paul Burkett (Carolyn), daughter Kristi Antosh (Jim) and her three grandsons, Ben, Keith and Ken Nordquist. She will be deeply missed by her sisters, Mavis Grage, Helen Solem, Doris (J. Edward) Fern, and Ardith (Martin) Haraldson. She also leaves behind an extended network of friends and family across the country, especially in Phoenix, Arizona.
Ethel lived a wonderful life and will always be remembered for her humor as well as her caring and giving nature. Her Christian faith was strong and we know she is in heaven renewing relationships with family and friends and telling them all a few new jokes.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of her Life will be held at Touchmark Retirement Community, 915 Saddle Drive, Helena, MT on Friday, November 15, 2013 beginning at 1:30 PM. An interment service will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on November 20th at 11:00 AM. This will be followed by a second celebration of Ethel’s life.
Memorials may be sent to: Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, 3580 North Benton Ave., Helena, MT 59602 or All Saint’s Lutheran Church, 15649 North Seventh Street, Phoenix, AZ 85022 or Hospice of St. Peter’s, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601. To offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Ethel, please visit below.
Annie & Joe says
Kristi & Jim, We are thrilled for the homecoming that was waiting my mom2 when she arrived in heaven, and was greeted by our savior who said to her ” welcome home my dear and faithful servant”. All who knew her were treated as family, we are truly blessed for having known her. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Much love.
pat harders-dilk says
an AMAZING Lady. Happy to have known her.
Kathy Jakob says
Ethel was a wonderful, funny, beautiful person. I will cherish the fun times we had while working together on All Saints Lutheran Altar Guild. I am truly blessed by having known her.
Kathy and Carl Copeland says
We will miss Aunt Ethel in many ways. She was a loving, caring person and had a great sense of humor and loved to go for pizza and beer when we visited her in Phoenix. I know she is in heaven helping out everyone. She will be missed dearly by everyone she touched and her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Kristi and Jim and we will always remember Aunt Etherl as a great person.
Rose says
Kris it was such a pleasure getting to know both you and Ethel. She was such a wonderful person and funny lady. I hope the big man up stairs is prepared to handle her he will have his hands full. Ethel will be deeply missed by everyone that knew her. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family at this time.
Jeanne WENNERSTEN Tilghman says
Ethel was such a good friend to my mother, Betty Wennersten. Whenever we visited from CA we made sure to go to Dairy Queen. Our two mothers did love their blizzards! I can only imagine the two friends having a ball in heaven without the aches and infirmities that they suffered in their later years. God Bless you and your families.