Ethel Mae Moen, 86, of Melrose passed away peacefully at Gundersen Health Systems in LaCrosse on June 2, 2017 surrounded by her family.

Ethel was born to Archie and Inga (Skumlien) Jacobson on October 18, 1930 at the family home in Fuller Coulee, Pigeon Falls. She attended school in Irving and Plum Creek.

In 1947 she worked as a maid for a wealthy lady in LaCrosse. She took cooking classes at the technical school in LaCrosse. She later worked as a nurse's aide at the LaCrosse Hospital.

On March 6, 1948, Ethel married James Moen at the Blair Lutheran parsonage. After marriage she worked as a farmwife. She also worked at Etco Products in Ettrick, a nurse's aide at the Family Heritage Home, at the Arrow Shopper, babysat many children, cleaned at the Upper Beaver Creek Church and worked as a clerk at elections in the Town of Franklin. She was a Sunday School teacher and Superintendent of Sunday School for several years. She volunteered at the Food Pantry in Taylor. She was very involved in the Upper Beaver Creek Church and referred to them as her "church family." She belonged to a "tug of war" team in Taylor that often placed first, second, or third place.

Ethel loved animals and children. She would bring home animals that others no longer wanted and they became part of the family. She would often be seen on walks in the woods with a bandana on and a walking stick, with a trail of animals behind her, including her pet lamb "Lambert," dogs, chickens, cats and children. She loved raising chickens and called them her "toopies." She loved crossword puzzles, biographies, movie star magazines, her church, Queen Elizabeth, John and Jackie Kennedy, John Deere tractors, singer Danny O'Donnell, wagon rides with her son Steven, gardening, Norwegian coffee, gingersnaps, garage sales, bird watching and most of all her family.

She is survived by her three children, Steve (Selina) Moen of Black River Falls, Claudia (John) Singleton of Black River Falls and Jane Moen of Melrose; a brother, Ardell Jacobson of Blair; a sister, Mavis Olson of Whitehall; six grandchildren, Jackie, Michelle, Brandon, Carrie, Donovan and Carlie; 11 great-grandchildren, four sisters-in-law, Phyllis Moen of Milwaukee, Cindy Lynch of Texas, Beverly Ann Sather of Milwaukee and Betty Jane Cartrette of Blair, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Archie and Inga Jacobson; her in-laws, Christ and Ella Moen; a grandson, Danny Moen; a granddaughter Corrie Moen; a brother, James Jacobson; a special aunt, Agnes Finstad; bothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Duane Moen, Harriet (Ivan) Hanson, Micky (Betty) Moen, Viola (Bob) Miller, Clarence Moen, Clara (Leonard) Semb, Myrtle (Don) Erickson, Lyle Olson, Bert Cartrette, Milton Tranberg, Evelyn (Spencer) Anderson, Bob Sather, Lucille (John) Martin and James Lynch.

Ethel will be remembered for her sense of humor, compassion, Norwegian heritage, wit, kindness, honesty, work ethic and that twinkle in her eye. UFFDA!!

God was good to us. He gave us a wonderful mother. "Gonna take a sentimental journey. Gonna take a journey home."

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at 10 a.m. in the Upper Beaver Creek Lutheran Church in rural Taylor. Pastor Mara Ahles-Iverson will officiate. Inurnment will follow immediately after the memorial service in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday, June 9, 2017 from 5-7 p.m. in the Jack Funeral Home in Blair and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.