Ethel Lucille Hooge

Ethel Lucille Edwards Natterstad Solomonson Hooge, age 101, of Annandale, formerly of Storden, died Saturday, October 26, 2024, at Centennial Villa Assisted Living in Annandale.
A Celebration of Life and Eternal Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at Lake Union Church, South Haven with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Pastor Tyler Menssen will officiate. Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday at Bethany Lutheran Cemetery in Storden, Minnesota.
Ethel Lucielle Edwards was born on June 27, 1923, to Nick and Clara (Warner) Edwards. Her birth occurred in the bedroom at the Warner home place on the Old Dutch Charlie Creek in the Highwater township in Cottonwood County, Minnesota. Ethel's world consisted of the Old Westbrook Lutheran Church, the Sunny Side School, and uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends within a 5-mile radius.
Ethel's early life was filled with swimming/skating/working in the barns and walking to school with her siblings, Joe, Verna, Lloyd, Byron, Eunice, and Norman. Her mom taught her to clean, cook, garden, can food, do laundry, churn butter, clean chickens, clean the cream separator, make buns, cakes, cookies, and kringles and generally how to run a home.
At age 15, Ethel left home to cook, clean, and do laundry for the Highby's, after Aunt Mary died. Her next employment brought her to Storden to work for Mildred and Clarence Westgor. Mrs. Westgor was LaVern Natterstad's first cousin who comes into play next. Mrs. Westgor taught Ethel to make Coumsa, which her kids are forever grateful. Other important people from that time include Vigo Miller, the old-time store owner who helped our family through hard times ahead and George Grams who ran the produce and helped out whenever he could. Bethany Lutheran Church in Storden became Ethel's new stronghold for challenges ahead. Mom's faith was tested many times throughout her life, and it has always been the lifeline that kept her afloat throughout her life.
At age 20, she married LaVern Natterstad, the love of her life and proceeded to have 7 children, Patricia, Barbara, Marjorie, Bonnie, Dean, LaVonne and Melanie. These early years were lived out on the Natterstad farm north of Storden with Grandpa Knut and Aunt Nora being part of the household. Ethel loved having babies and would have had more if LaVern had not died at age 33 due to long term hypertension and alcoholism. To the best of Ethel's remembrance, Lavern's alcohol use worsened after his farm accident that led to amputation of his left hand and forearm.
These were the best of times and the worst of times for Ethel.
Lots of love and a busy home coupled with disappointment and hard work trying to keep the farm chores and household chores up when Lavern wasn't able to help.
Ethel taught her kids to keep busy, work hard, help others, and remember to have fun! This is the formula that got Ethel through hard times. It was not unusual for Ethel to go to the creek after dark to ice skate and enjoy the fresh air and be alone for a few minutes before coming back to the house and her responsibilities and it was fun!
Enter Norman Solomonson, the quintessential older Norwegian bachelor farmer willing to take on a woman with 7 kids. This was an administrative decision that generally worked out well for Ethel. It kept the family together and led to perks such as travel, which Norman enjoyed. Challenges included living in a tiny house with an outdoor toilet and trying to keep Norman happy despite the chaos. Eventually, Norman needed to be cared for and Mom kept him at home in Storden after leaving the farm south of town until he died when mom was 72.
During her 70s, Ethel moved on to cleaning the church and doing quilts for family, friends, and missions. She enjoyed doing devotions and music at the nursing home in Westbrook, at church, and the Storden Senior Center. Remember, you will be fine if you keep busy and help others. This was the season of losing friends and relatives frequently and the usual groups no longer were gathering.
Ethel's 80s: Old age is setting in by this time and Ethel married Melvin Hooge from Mt. Lake to have a partner during her golden years. Some good and some disappointments came with this as always, but she could focus on keeping active and helping her new neighbors and friends in Mt. Lake.
Fast forward to Ethel's mid 90s: By now the family had moved Ethel to assisted living, initially with Melvin and then by herself as she outlived another husband.
Her last move was to Annandale Care Center to be near family in the Annandale area. At the Annandale Care Center, Ethel became famous for stirring the pot and getting staff to do some activity even if nothing was on the schedule. She also continued to enjoy coffee and cookies and requested them often. Her biggest complaint was she didn't have any work to do, and she felt frustrated doing nothing.
Now Ethel has passed, and we are left with the edict to work hard, keep busy, help others, and "Have some Fun"!
Will do Mom. Will do.
Ethel is survived by Dean (Karen) Natterstad, Barb (Keith) Madson, Patricia Parker, Marjorie Mae Schmidt, Bonnie (Alan) Graff, LaVonne (Paul) Jacobson, and Melanie Dunlap (Frank); and 128 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
'Tak for Alt'
'Tak for Alt' is a special Scandinavian phrase meaning Thank you for everything. It is saved for very special or sad times when an important person is no longer going to be around. This phrase shows gratitude for the impact that person has had on your life and covers all the things they have done for you and how much they have meant to you.
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