Obituary of Ethelyn Lundquist

Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother Ethelyn Lundquist was born April 8, 1923 and died July 11, 2012. She was born near Marquette Kansas to Aaron and Mabel (Hopp) Lillia and had an older sister, Arlene Krehbiel. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Arlene, grandson Luke Lundquist, great-grandson Elliott Boren, and great-granddaughters, Teagan and Reagan Esping. She was baptized at Elim Lutheran Church at Marquette and was a member there until her marriage. On June 21, 1944, Ethelyn was united in marriage to Orvin Lundquist at Freemount Lutheran Church. Orvin's brother, Rev Merton Lundquist, married them. This was Merton's first official act as a new minister. Orvin always tells us this was the longest day of the year! Orvin and Ethelyn's devotion to love, honor, and cherish each other as partners in life for 68 years is an example and legacy for all of us to follow. She and Orvin farmed for many years west of Lindsborg, moving to Lindsborg in 1963. Ethelyn worked at Bethany College as a secretary for the music department and later as a cook in the cafeteria. She was also a cook for 23 years at Bethany Home until her retirement in 1997. Ethelyn's greatest joy was preparing "home cooked food" for her family and "family" at Bethany Home. She was never satisfied with just opening a can of prepared food. She would add her special "love" to the food she cooked. She enjoyed hearing comments from residents and staff about how good her food was, and how people would "know" when she wasn't the cook that day. She was well known for her rye bread and cinnamon rolls, and baked thousands of loaves of bread for Bethany Home and family in her life. Kids and grandkids always asked for her homemade rolls and goodies when they came to visit. As her eyesight deteriorated, she continued to cook and bake as she could. She readily shared her recipes from memory. Little known to others, Ethelyn enjoyed cards, especially solitaire, playing endless games until the cards were worn out! A new deck of large print cards was always on her gift list. She also enjoyed word searches until her vision became too poor. Always a sports fan, her favorite was watching or listening to Royals baseball. One of the greatest joys in Ethelyn's life was her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Even with her aches and limited vision, her face would light up and the pain was gone when a grand or great-grandchild was around. She recently said while rocking and feeding one of her great-grandbabies, "I guess I still have the touch to take care of a baby". She is leaving us now, but is watching over her family who survive her: husband Orvin, of Lindsborg, daughter Donna Lann and husband John of Wichita, son Gary Lundquist and wife Ava, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, daughter Wanda Esping and husband Karl of Lindsborg. Grandchildren: Jaime Lundquist, Daniel and Kate Lundquist, Eben and Kate Lundquist, Sara and David Dayton, Amy and Jeff Boren, Aaron and Inge Esping, Erick and Lisa Esping, and Emily and Andrew Schrader. Great-grandchildren, Riley and Jack Dayton, Ethan, Anna and Caroline Boren, Anna and Heidi Lundquist, Leah Schrader, Mckinley Esping, Jerrett Esping, and two more on the way. Visitation will be Sunday from 4-7pm with family present from 6-7pm at Christians Funeral Home, Lindsborg. Burial will be held Monday at 9:00 AM at Freemount Lutheran Cemetery, with a Memorial Service following at 10:00 AM at Freemount Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated for Freemount Historical Society in care of Christians Funeral Home 103 N. Washington PO Box 386 Lindsborg, KS 67456. Online condolences at www.ChristiansFuneralHome.com