Ethel Irlbeck

Ethel Ava Irlbeck, age 85, of Willmar, died Wednesday evening, September 5, at Rice Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 8, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. Interment will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home.
Ethel was born on March 31, 1922, on the family farm near Vesta, Minnesota, the daughter of Glenn and Ava (Antoine) Alexander. She grew up and received her education in the Vesta community. She attended Mankato Teachers College and earned her Teachers Training degree. Ethel taught country school for 2 years near Morgan. On September 26, 1944, Ethel was married to Bernard B. Irlbeck. They lived and farmed near Franklin for many years and later moved near Bertha and continued farming. They retired in 1964 and moved to Willmar. Ethel was briefly employed at Rice Memorial Hospital as a receptionist before working at Northern States Supply for over 25 years. She was an active member of the Church of St. Mary. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting and being with her family.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Irlbeck of Willmar; one brother, Curt (and Rosemarie) Alexander of Indianapolis, IN.; and three sisters, Ruth Lowry of Hastings, NE., Glenna (and David) Espenson of Rochester and Carol (and George) Williams of Inver Grove Heights, besides other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bernard in 1976, and one brother, David Alexander.