Ethel Ann Fode

Ethel Ann (Bunnis) Fode, age 87, passed away Sunday, November 18, 2018, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo.  Ethel was born May 8, 1931, to William and Susan (Goheen) Bunnis, at Lake Wilson, Minnesota, the youngest of 10 children.  In 1932 she and her family moved to the Rochert, MN, area.  They moved several times between Rochert, Frazee, Detroit Lakes and California.  Ethel always said her "Papa" had a little of the "Wander Lust".  Ethel attended school at District 25, Acorn Lake School near Frazee.  In 1941 Ethel was elected President of the Young Citizen's League in Becker County, an accomplishment she was always very proud of.  In 1946, Ethel and her parents moved back to California to Doc Seeley's Trailer Camp at 320 North Cherokee Lane, Lodi, CA.  Ethel got a job packing cherries at a local packing house.  While there she met a young woman by the name of Ruth Vietz, whose boyfriend was Carlton Fode.  On June 8, 1947, Ruth asked Ethel to go on a blind date that evening and Ethel met Raymen Fode, which began their almost 50-year relationship.  Ray and Ethel were married June 13, 1948, in Detroit Lakes, MN.  They moved to California for a short time and then returned to Detroit Lakes where they lived for the remainder of their marriage.  Ray and Ethel had three children born to them; Kathy, Gary and Mark.  Ray passed away on May 9, 1997.  Ethel was a stay at home mom for many years.  In 1966, Ethel began employment in the Dietary Department at Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes, hoping to work "a couple of years" and was employed there for 27 years.  Ethel was a very wonderful loving wife, mother and grandmother who loved to spend time with her family and friends.  Her main hobby was cooking for her family and friends and she was a wonderful cook.  Ethel was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School for many years, was a member of the LWML and sang in the Guild Choir.  Ethel passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 18, 2018, after a short illness with her family by her side.  Ethel is survived by her children: Kathy (Otto) Neuleib, Erhard, MN; Gary (Patty) Fode, Detroit Lakes, MN; Mark (Pam) Fode, Fargo, ND. 7 Grandchildren: Karen (Dave) Gray; Dan (Andrea) Dow; Adam Fode; Brian (Rachael Knepper) Fode; Jordan (Brett) Tysdal; Kylee Fode; Camryn Fode. 7 Great-Grandchildren: Tyler (Kayla) Dow; Katelyn (Chance Christensen) Rude; Travis (Becca) Gray; Kristen Gray; Brett Gerrard; Gavin Tysdal; Greyson Tysdal. 5 Great-Great Grandchildren: Scarlet, Azrael and Remington Christensen; Landon Dow; Kalina Gray. 5 Step Grandchildren and families: Chad (Beth) Neuleib, Hope and Grace; Amber (Jim) Fitzgerald, Haile and Austin; Beth (Terry) Lorentz, Aaron, Blake and Brittney; Logan Stenson; Lane Stenson. 4 sister-in-laws: Elda Bunnis, Ruth Fode, Dorothy Fode, Arlene Fode. And many nieces and nephews.  Ethel was preceded in death by her loving husband Ray; her parents; 5 brothers, John, Charles, Glenn, Bennet and Clifford; 4 sisters, Anna Lorraine Lee, Beatrice Dysthe, Marjorie Armstrong, Faye Johnson.  BLESSED BE THE MEMORY OF ETHEL FODE