The funeral service for Etta Stieglbauer Hjelmen of Geneva will be 11 a.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church, Ellendale. The Rev. Gary Liker will officiate. Interment will be in the Geneva Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Ellendale, and one hour before the service at the church.
Etta died Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at the New Richland Care Center. She was 94 years old.
Etta was born July 8, 1913, in Freeborn County to Martin Carl and Anne Christine (Jensen) Nelson. She attend school in Geneva and the Farr Country School outside of Geneva. Etta spent the majority of her life in the Geneva area. Etta married George Stieglbauer on May 2, 1930. He died in March 1965. She later married Oscar Hjelmen on Oct. 11, 1980. He died April 9, 1996. Etta was a member of the United Methodist Church of Geneva and belonged to the UMW. She was a homemaker and had worked for Northern Valley and Land-O-Lakes. Etta belonged to the Tuesday Club and Senior Citizens. She enjoyed gardening, baking, fishing at their cabin by Longville, dancing and traveling. Etta loved her family, especially her grandchildren.
Etta is survived by seven children: Loretta Anderson of Albert Lea, Louis (Barbara) Stieglbauer of Woodbridge, Va., Shirley Diaz of Mankato, Jeanette (Terry) Ringeon of Albert Lea, Julia (Kenneth) Farr of Geneva, George (Susan) Stieglbauer of Geneva, and LaVerne (Linda) Stieglbauer of Geneva; 22 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren; brother Olaf F. Nelson of Geneva; sister-in-law: Adeline Nelson of New Richland; son-in-law: Manuel Cortinas of Faribault; many nieces and nephews.
Etta is preceded in death by her parents Martin and Christine Nelson; husbands: George Stieglbauer and Oscar Hjelmen; daughters: Delores and Donna in infancy and daughter Margaret Cortinas; grandsons: George Stieglbauer III., Steven Stieglbauer, John Diaz; sons-in-law: Allan Anderson, Jesse Diaz; brothers: Magnus (Mary) Nelson, Nels C. Nelson, Einer (Bessie) Nelson, Ervin Nelson: sisters: Carrie in infancy, Clara (Ralph) Nutter and Emma (George) Snater and sister-in-law Myrtle Nelson.