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Ethel Lawson

Nov. 18, 1932 – Nov. 11, 2018

Ethel Lawson, 85,

Minot, ND, formerly of

Donnybrook, ND, passed

away Sunday, November

11, 2018, in a Minot hos-

pital.

Ethel Mae Helmers was

born November 18, 1932,

the daughter of John and

Alice (Hanson) Helmers,

in rural Tolley, ND. She

was raised and educated

in Donnybrook, ND, gra-

duating from Donnybrook

High School in 1950. Fol-

lowing graduation, Ethel

received her teaching cer-

tificate and taught school

in Grano, ND.

Ethel married Gerald

Lawson on June 3, 1952 in

Tolley. They made their

home in Coulee, ND and

from this union four chil-

dren were born: Tom,

Don, Sandra and Joel.

In 1968 Ethel received

her Bachelor’s Degree in

Education from Minot

Teacher’s College. During

her 33 years of teaching

she taught 3rd grade, was

the school Librarian and

also taught Title 1. After

her retirement, Ethel pro-

vided tutoring services

out of her home and

worked as a substitute

teacher.

Gerald passed away No-

vember 1, 2013.

Ethel and Gerald were

members of Hope Luth-

eran Church in Coulee.

Together they volunteered

for a number of school ac-

tivities around the Don-

nybrook area. Ethel was

also a member of the

Clarence McCormack

American Legion Auxili-

ary, Post #195.

Ethel was very crafty

and enjoyed quilting,

ceramics and sewing. She

also enjoyed canning and

baking; keeping her fami-

ly well fed at many family

get-togethers. Gerald and

Ethel enjoyed watching

Minnesota Twins baseball

games and attending com-

munity sporting events in

Kenmare and Don-

nybrook. Ethel and Gerald

were very active in fol-

lowing their grand-

children’s sporting and

music events. They were

awarded the #1 Honker

Fan plaque at Kenmare

High School.

Ethel was first and

foremost a teacher, and

taught her children to “toe

the mark” and always do

the right thing, even when

no one is watching.

Surviving family in-

cludes: Children, Tom

(Gayle) Lawson, Don-

nybrook, Don (Carmen)

Lawson, Zap, Sandra

(Ron) Michel, Don-

nybrook and Joel (Lori)

Lawson, Minot; 12 grand-

children, Cory Lawson,

Kristen Theobald, Alicia

Meidinger, Jason Lawson,

Matthew Entze and Ni-

cholas Klatt, Ryan Michel,

Tory Michel, Brady

Michel, Tia Knutson, Lora

St. Croix, JorDan Lawson;

20 great-grandchildren;

brother, Darwin (Jeanne)

Helmers, Minot; sister,

Darlene King, Akron, OH;

and numerous nieces,

nephews and cousins.

Ethel was preceded in

death by her parents; hus-

band of 61 years, Gerald

Lawson; and her brothers,

Allen, Eddie and Lyle Hel-

mers.

Funeral: Thursday, No-

vember 15, 2018, at 10:30

a.m. at Zion Lutheran-

Church, Minot, ND.

Interment: Rosehill

Memorial Park, Minot,

ND.

Visitation: Wednesday

from 4 to 7 p.m. at

Thompson-Larson Fun-

eral Home, Minot, ND.

Those wishing to sign

the online register and

share memories may ac-

cess the online obituaries

section at (www.

thompsonlarson.com).