Ethel Griffin

Ethel (Rossum) Griffin, 93, Wahpeton, ND, passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at St. Catherine's Living Center surrounded by her family under the care of CHI Health at Home-Hospice. The funeral service will be on Tuesday, February 16, at 10:30 AM at Bethel Lutheran Church, Wahpeton, with Rev. Jule` Ballinger officiating. A gathering with the family will be on Monday from 5 PM to 7 PM with a Celebration of Life Service at 7 PM at Bethel Lutheran Church. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Interment will be at a later date at Fairview Cemetery, Wahpeton. Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.

Ethel Jane (Rossum) Griffin was born on June 29, 1922 at rural Wahpeton, ND to John and Amanda (Ahrens) Ehrens. She received her formal education at rural Wahpeton and then at Garborg Township School No. 4, rural Wyndmere, ND. She stayed home and helped her parents until she married Byron M. Rossum on December 15, 1942 at Breckenridge Lutheran Church, Breckenridge, MN. The couple farmed north of Barney, ND in Nansen Township until 1957. The couple then moved to Freeman Township, rural McLeod, ND where they farmed until 1967 when they moved to Wahpeton. Ethel worked at Mohn's Bakery, Breckenridge, Johnson Variety Store (Ben Franklin), Wahpeton, cooked at the St. Catherine's Living Center, Wahpeton, was head cook at North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, operated the concession stand in the Chahinkapa Park, Wahpeton, cooked at the migrant program at Central Middle School, and then operated her own catering service.

Her husband, Byron passed away on May 19, 1984. Ethel continued to reside in Wahpeton until April 12, 1991 when she married Cleo Griffin. The couple lived in Dwight for three years and then moved to Wahpeton. Cleo passed away on August 18, 2009.
Ethel was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, Bethel's Friendship Circle, and the Wahpeton VFW Auxiliary. Ethel enjoyed dancing, playing cards, quilting, playing bingo, catering with her daughters, and spending time with her family. Ethel has resided at St. Catherine's Living Center since September of 2011, where she has made many wonderful friends.

Ethel is survived by a son, Kenneth (Lois) Rossum, Sandy, UT; three daughters, Diane (Carl) Glander, West Fargo, ND, Vivian (Tom) Bernotas, Wahpeton, and Coleen (Lynn) Thoe, Wahpeton; three step-children, Brian (Char) Griffin, Battle Lake, MN, Denise (Dan) Biewer, Underwood, MN, and Vaughan (Wendy) Griffin, Dwight; 15 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; numberous step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Byron M. Rossum; Cleo Griffin; six brothers, George, August, Raymond, Rudolph, Delbert, and Lewis; and three sisters, Mabel Johnson, Leona Wateland, and Luccile Buck.

Mom was a beautiful loving person; she had a heart of gold, a great sense of humor and a laugh that was contagious. Mom never met a person who was a stranger for very long. She has touched the lives of many, and has left an indescribable legacy of love and compassion for her family.
We love you Mom….until we meet again.