Post Messenger Recorder -

Ethel Mildred Sandridge, age 90, passed away on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at the New Glarus Home. She was born on May 29, 1926, in the Town of Burke to her parents, Dean and Della (Smith) Smith.

When she was still an infant, her family moved to Trego, WI. At age 16 she moved to Belleville to live with her aunt Mary Rhyner to help care for her grandma. She was baptized and confirmed in the Evangelical and Reformed Church, which is now First United Church of Christ, in Belleville. She graduated from Belleville High School in 1944, and attended Grove-Barnhart Secretarial College. She worked at the Citizens State Bank.

On June 11, 1945, Ethel married her high school sweetheart, Wilfred Sandridge. Together they farmed on the family farm until 1953 when they moved to Belleville. She was active in church work as a Sunday School teacher, superintendent, secretary, and treasurer. She sang in the choir, and belonged to Women's Guild, and Open Bible Class. She was a leader for 4-H and Cub Scouts, as well as an officer in the Order of the Eastern Star.

Ethel was employed by H.S. Hoesly Lumber Co. for 35 years. When the company was sold, she worked for Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Ethel and Wilfred belonged to National Square Dancers and enjoyed square dancing and traveling to many states, Canada, and Europe. In 1989, they decided to spend winters in Texas where they became very active in mission work for Children's Haven International in Reynosa, Mexico. The other months of the year she volunteered at the New Glarus Home.

Ethel was a seamstress, loved sewing for her family, and made square dancing outfits for many friends. She loved to crochet, do Swedish weaving, quilting, and many other crafts. She enjoyed gardening, canning and freezing all her produce, and raising flowers, especially African violets.

Ethel is survived by her husband of 71 years, Wilfred; daughter, Sandra (John) Colstad; son, Gary (Valerie Baumann); grandchildren, Kimberly (Dan) Hefty, Heidi (Joby) Hoff, and Eric (Erica) Colstad; great-grandsons, Aiden, Dylan, and Ethan Colstad. She is also survived by a sister, Fran (Ken Sr.) Zimmerman; a brother, Raymond (Gurine) Smith; and a sister-in-law, Darlene Smith; as well as nieces and nephews.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Albert, Elmer "Bud," Arthur, Betty Schmidt, Mary Lou Marty Ryan; and a sister-in-law, Juanita Kluever.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, September 19, 2016, at the First United Church of Christ, 130 E. Church Ave., Belleville, WI, with the Rev. Heide Walker Hackman officiating with burial in the Belleville Cemetery.

A visitation preceded the funeral service from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., on Monday, September 19, 2016, at the First United Church of Christ in Belleville.

Memorials are suggested to Children's Haven International, 400 E. Minnesota Rd., Pharr, TX 78577, or the First United Church of Christ, Belleville.

The Becker-Beal Funeral Home of Belleville is serving the family.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com.