Mabel Hulstrand

Mabel E. Hulstrand, age 92, of Willmar, died Wednesday evening, August 20, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, at Bethel Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, August 22, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. Visitation will also be from 10 -11 a.m. with a "sing-a-long" on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Bethel Lutheran Church Music Fund or Camp Fund or Music Matters www.petersonbrothers.com
Mabel Elizabeth Hulstrand was born on January 27, 1922, in New Haven, Connecticut, the daughter of Emil and Hulda (Johanson) Ericson. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethesda Lutheran Church in New Haven and graduated from Wilbur Cross High School in 1940. Mabel attended Grace New Haven School of Nursing (now Yale), earning her Registered Nurse degree and then became employed at Grace Hospital. During that time she met George while he attended Yale Law School. On September 7, 1946, in New Haven, Mabel was united in marriage to George E. Hulstrand. Later that year, they moved to Willmar and Mabel worked at Rice Memorial Hospital and at the Willmar Nursing Home. Many remembered Mabel for the exceptional care with bedside nursing and her willingness to share her training with many nursing assistants.
Mabel was a founding and current member of the Cosmopolitan Study Club; an active member of her church where she served with the altar guild, Lucia Day, was a loyal choir member and also served on the worship and music committee. She was a primary sponsor for a Polish refugee family who was involved in Solidarity through Bethel Church. Mabel also supported the DFL Party by hosting local activities and events. She and George attended the 1965 Inaugural Ball celebrating the election of Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey.
Mabel loved spending time at "The Stuga" (the cabin) on Lake Andrew. She was an enthusiastic Swede that enjoyed traveling, especially to Sweden. Mabel's hobbies also included singing, dancing, sewing and entertaining. She enjoyed time spent with her family and friends, especially the grandchildren and her close friend, Ing Rau. She was proud that her father was a carpenter and her mother was a maid. Mabel was a wonderful mother and a fabulous grandmother.
She is survived by three children, George Hulstrand Jr. of Willmar, Darlene (and David) Schroeder of Pennock and Jeanne (and Jon) Berget of Woodbury; seven grandchildren and one daughter-in-law, Elaine Hulstrand of Willmar, besides several beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George in 2013; one son, Brian; and her sister, Florence Johnson.

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