Ethel A. (Nelson) North

OBITUARY OF ETHEL A. NORTH

Ethel Ardelle North, 93, of Long Pine, Nebraska passed away Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at the O’Neill hospital after a brief illness.

Ethel was born to Earl Chester and Dorothy Astella (Swanson) Nelson in Ord, Nebraska on September 6, 1931, the oldest of six children. She was raised in the Ord area and attended rural school Districts #40 and #6 in Valley County. She helped her parents at home until 1949 when she began working in Ord at Earl’s Cleaners, then moving to employment at the Ord Quiz until 1962. 

Ethel was married on October 22, 1962, in Ord, Nebraska to Dale E. North of Ainsworth, Nebraska. The family included Dale’s son Edward L. North whose mother had passed away in 1958. They lived in Ainsworth for a time where Ethel worked at Ruby Morgan’s Cleaners and Claude See’s Cleaners while Dale ran a shoe repair shop. Ethel and the family then moved to Chimney Creek west of Springview, Nebraska where they ranched and cut posts for Gerald Swim. In 1966 they moved to Long Pine, Nebraska when Dale began employment with the Ainsworth Irrigation District. Ethel started working part-time for the Brown County Assessor in 1968. In 1969 she became an accountant for the Farmers/Ranchers Coop where she worked until her retirement on September 1, 1994. 

Ethel and Dale enjoyed traveling, camping, canoeing the Niobrara and staying at their one-room cabin near Meadville. But their favorite was spending time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ethel loved to counter cross stitch and made many pieces she gave as gifts. She also enjoyed playing Scrabble and she was hard to beat…just ask her daughter-in-law. In later years she continued playing Scrabble with family and friends on-line. Ethel made her choice to serve the True and Living God at age 15 and it remained her chief joy until her passing. 

Ethel is survived by son, Ed North and wife Shari of Emmet, Nebraska; three grandchildren, Bryan North and wife Jamie of Holbrook, Nebraska, Sarah (North) Hardin and husband Shelby of Mullen, Nebraska, Randy North and wife Tara of O'Neill, Nebraska; great- grandchildren, Joslyn, Adrienne, Tanner and Clayton North, Ethan and Brandon Hardin; sisters, Wilma and husband Robert Appleman of Johnstown Nebraska, and Leta Schuebel of Wheatland, Wyoming; sister-in-law, Rosemary Nelson of Beatrice, Nebraska; and many nieces and nephews to whom she was a second “Mom.” 

Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, brothers, Lonnie Nelson, Lyle Nelson, Verl Nelson and brother-in-law, Kenneth Schuebel.

Funeral Service was held on Friday, February 7, 2025 at the Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth with Richard Gasser, Dale DeRaad and Martha Cueller officiating at the service. Music was provided by Christina Creech as pianist and Lara Wilhoit as violinist with the congregation singing “Was It For Me?” The CD Selection of “How Great Thou Art” was played by Alan Jackson. The Cemetery Song was “The Truth Of God.” Casketbearers were: Joslyn K. North, Adrienne M. North, Tanner L. North, Clayon J. North, Ethan G. Hardin and Brandon J. Hardin. Honorary Casketbearers were: All of Ethel’s Other Family & Friends. Memorials were suggested to the family for a future designation. Interment followed in the Grandview Cemetery at Long Pine under the direction of the Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth and condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com. 

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