Ethel Bethel

Ethel G. Bethel, 88, a longtime resident of Highland Park/Des Moines, Iowa, currently residing in Overland Park, Kansas, died Saturday morning, December 1st, at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 7th, at the Highland Park Christian Church in Des Moines with Reverend John Holcombe officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:00 a.m. until time of service on Friday. Following cremation, a private family burial will take place at Highland Memory Gardens at a later date. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home of Marshalltown is caring for Ethel and her family. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com Phone: (641) 844-1234. Ethel was born October 7, 1919, in Graettinger, Iowa, the daughter of Ben and Anna (Luhman) Leary. She was raised and educated in Iowa Falls, Iowa. She went on to graduate from the American Institute of Business in Des Moines. On April 8th, 1939, in Iowa Falls, Iowa, Ethel was united in marriage to Donald Edward Bethel. Following their marriage they made their home in Des Moines where they resided all of their married lives. In addition to raising her five children Ethel worked several years at the Klines Department Store in Highland Park and with the family business Bethels Rite Way Pest Control. She enjoyed spending time with her family, painting, ceramics, making stained glass decorations and traveling. In their younger years Don and Ethel spent several winters in Mesa, Arizona. Above all she was a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother to her family. Ethel was an active member of the Highland Park Christian Church for several years. Left to celebrate her life are her children: Dr. David (Patricia) Bethel of Marshalltown, Tom (Julie) Bethel of Burnsville, Minnesota, Pamela (Jim) McBee of Overland Park, Kansas and Bill (Amy) Bethel of Ankeny, 15 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. In death she has rejoined her husband Donald E. Bethel, her son Donald L. Bethel, her parents, a sister and two brothers.