Ethel Maria (Betker) Calhoun, age 95, of Laona, was called to receive her wings in the arms of the Lord on January 11, 2021. She was born August 30, 1925 the daughter of Peter and Alice (Simonis) Betker in Laona, WI the 8th of 12 children.
Ethel married Ivan “Kylie” Calhoun on January 9, 1943. He preceded her in death on November 20, 2003.
Ethel and Kylie had 5 children, Frances Menting, Laona; David (Darlene) Calhoun, Laona; Peter (Yongie) Calhoun, Howards Grove, WI; Kathryn (Pat) Dudley, Glen Flora, WI and Joseph Calhoun (Barbara Stachoviak), Wausau, WI; grandchildren, Monica (Kim), Pam (Jeff), Kyle (Christine), Craig (Rachel), Jennifer (Mike), David (Val), Kathy, Billie Jo (Keith), Alice (Aaron), Jessica (Jeremiah), Anna (John), Justin (Mariah) and Allison. Further survived 28 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.
Ethel had many jobs throughout her life, the one that she loved most and worked for 40 years, was the Laona Sanitary District, were she was the clerk. She retired at 86 years young. She was a lifelong member of St. Leonard Catholic Church, Laona. Where one could find her in the choir loft, singing or as she call it “harmonizing”. Ethel told a story when she was a young girl, how she started playing piano and singing and that she had a piano in her house until she became a resident of Nu-Roc Health Care Center. That was her passion, as she taught her children and grandchildren the famous songs “You are my Sunshine” and Zippity Doo Dah”
She was a member and past officer of the Laona VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and the 4H Club. She loved bowling.
She is preceded in death and welcomed in heaven are her husband, Ivan “Kylie”; parents, Peter and Alice; a grandson, John Menting, Jr. and son-in-law, John Menting, Sr.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 15, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at St. Leonard Catholic Church. Funeral mass will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Father Anil Polumari officiating. Interment will be at the Laona Cemetery. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.weberhillfuneralhome.com
The family would like to thank Weber-Hill Funeral Home for assisting with our mother and grandmother.