Ethel Clara Bellrichard, 100
Published 11:06 am Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Ethel Clara Bellrichard, 100, of Austin, Minn., died Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin.
She was born in Haverhill, Iowa, on June 27, 1913, to Charles and Magdelina (Neuroth) Holdgrafer. Her family lived on various farms in Marshalltown, Iowa, Hollandale, Minn., and Austin. She attended school through the eighth grade. Ethel met Irving Bellrichard at a Grange Hall in rural Austin in 1929. After a year of courtship, they married on Sept. 1, 1931, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin. Ethel and Irving both worked at Hormel’s during the early 1930s. In 1934, they purchased a farm south of Austin. Irving died on Feb. 7, 1962. Ethel moved into Austin in 1972. She worked at Sacred Heart Hospice as a housekeeper from 1972 until her retirement in 1982. She moved into Sacred Heart Care Center in January of 2010.
Ethel loved to travel. She visited 45 of the 50 states, parts of Canada and Mexico. She also enjoyed playing cards, visiting family and friends. Ethel is known for her warm and gentle heart and her famous baked beans at family holidays.
Ethel is survived by her children, Joan Bellrichard, of Apple Valley, Minn., Loren Bellrichard, of Austin, Janet (Tom) Musser of Green Castle, Ind.; daughters-in law, Margaret Bellrichard, of Austin; and Pat Bellrichard, of Mondovi, Wis.; son-in-law, Jerry Majkrzak, of St. Paul, Minn.; 19 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Basil Bellrichard; sisters-in-law, Marian Holdgrafer and Marie Thomas; many nieces and nephews.
Ethel is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Irving; four children, Dale Bellrichard, Jean Gomer, Ron Bellrichard, Marilyn Majkrzak; son-in-law, Don Gomer; great-grandson, Jeremy King; four brothers, Herbert, Harold, Arthur, Tony and two sisters, Irene and Marietta.
The family is extremely grateful to the staff at Sacred Heart Care Center for their excellent care.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, at Mayer Funeral Home and again at 10 a.m. on Saturday, until the time of service at St. Edward’s Catholic Church.
A funeral mass will be on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, at 11 a.m. at St. Edward’s Catholic Church with Father Jim Steffes officiating.
Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences: www.mayerfh.com.