Ethel Keil age 74 of Redwood Falls left the arms of her earthly family for the embrace of her Heavenly Father’s on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at Garnette Gardens after 32 months of battling basal cell and aggressive squamous cell carcinomas.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 15 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Visitation is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Redwood Valley Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.  Interment is in Redwood Falls Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Redwood Cemetery Association, Friends of the Animal Shelter, or Redwood Area Hospice.  Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Ethel Lorraine (Potter) Keil, daughter of Herman and Gurina (Sorbel) Potter was born on Sunday, September 19, 1937 in Springfield, MN.  Ethel joined two brothers and a sister.  She was baptized at Springfield Methodist Church and confirmed in the New Avon Methodist Church.  Ethel graduated from Springfield High School.  She attended Mankato State University, majoring in Business Education.  In December, 1959, Ethel was united in marriage to Kenneth L. Keil at the New Avon Methodist Church.  Ethel’s first teaching position was in the Gaylord school system while Ken completed his degree. Eventually they made their home on the farm in Redwood Falls.  Ethel taught various business and English classes in the Wabasso School District.  Ethel and Ken made a good home for two daughters and many adopted pets.  Education was important to Ethel and she continued hers in keyboarding, word processing, and Microsoft.  She was a member of the Minnesota Business Educators, Inc., Treasurer of the Southwest Business Educators, and a member/board member of Delta PI Epsilon. As a child, her dream was to attend a Rose Bowl parade. After retirement, not only was she able to attend, but was given the opportunity to help put flowers on the Kmart float. Ethel enjoyed spending time with her family, traveling, shopping, time at the lake, and selling produce at Farmer’s Market.  After Ken passed away in 2004, Ethel devoted her energy and passion to the Redwood Cemetery Association and Friends of the Animal Shelter.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughters Kristine (Lyle) Skorseth of Hendricks and Kari (Jim) Priebe of Waseca; granddaughters Jovae and Jalea Priebe of Waseca; a sister, Marilynn Lau of Waseca; sisters-in-law Carol Potter of Renville and Ramona Potter of Redwood; many cousins, nieces and nephews; her Golden Retirever, Zena; and cats George, Blackie, and Skeetah.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Ken; her parents; her father and mother-in-law Karl and Woneta Keil; brothers Ken and Danny; brother-in-law Bud Lau; and many pets.  Blessed be her memory.