Ethel Lighter

Ethel Lighter

Funeral services were held May 8 at the First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji for Ethel Lighter, 97, who passed away May 5 at the Milford Nursing Center in Milford.

Rev. Tim Nappe officiated. Interment was at Milford Cemetery.

Ethel Eunice Lighter was born Sept. 14, 1911, to Lou and Anine (Jensen) Hollesen on a farm near Rembrandt. She went to school at Sioux Rapids, graduating from Sioux Rapids High School in 1931.

Ethel was united in marriage to Jay H. Lighter on March 9, 1935 at Sac City. To this union, one son was born, Jay Lighter, Jr.

The family lived in Sioux Rapids for eight years, then spent a year in Sibley, before spending the next 15 years in Milford. In 1959 the family moved to Sacred Heart, Minn. and became the owners of the Sacred Heart News for 17 years. They retired in 1976, and moved back to Milford in 1984.

Ethel was a member of the First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji.

A homemaker, Ethel enjoyed being surrounded by family and friends. She also enjoyed writing letters, listening to music and flowers.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jay, Sr., on June 29, 1992, son, Jay, Jr., on March 30, 2009, her parents, brothers, Bennie, Harry, Vernie, Darrell and Jack, sisters, Lulu Cullen and Stella Crow.

Surviving are a daughter-in-law, Charlene Lighter of Milford; granddaughters, Susan Gould and her husband, Rick, and Michelle Allen and her husband, Troy; great-grandchildren, Ashlee and Spenser Allen, Samantha Gould, all of Olathe, Kan., and Alex Gould of Ft. Bragg, N.C., as well as many extended family and friends.

Turner Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.