Ethel Ellen (Young) Borchard

Ethel Ellen Borchard

July 9, 1933 – July 24, 2022

Ethel, age 89, of Conrad, Montana, passed away peacefully July 24, 2022 at her place of residence Logan Health Extended Care.

Her memorial service will be on September 24 at Bethlehem Lutheran with interment following at Riverside Memorial Park in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Ethel Ellen Young was born in 1933 to Leonard and Ellen Young in Aberdeen, South Dakota where she grew up and attended school. At a young age, a missionary visited her school. She listened intently to the talk about sin and needing Jesus for our salvation. Realizing how important it was, she began getting herself to church. Being quite a bit younger than her siblings created a situation where she bonded with her older nieces and nephews as strongly as her siblings. She graduated from Central High School in 1951 and attended 6 months of secretarial school, but left so she could work full time starting at Socony Vacuum. A few years later, she met a local farm boy named Orville Borchard, who had gone to trade school in North Dakota. They tied the knot in 1955.

They started a family and Ethel became a busy mom having four children between 1957 and 1964, living on the outskirts of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She LOVED taking pictures and traveling to see family. She hosted many family gatherings too. She enjoyed sewing clothing, embroidery, cooking (and especially baking) for family and friends, and reading. Christmas was her favorite time of year. Gift giving was special to her, since neither she nor Orville had experienced much of that when they were young. She encouraged the kids’ involvement in church, sports, 4 H and Scouting. Her children were her pride and joy.

In 1967, a new job for Orville saw the family move to St. Paul, Minnesota, close to her brother Ed and his family. The family began camping in 1969. There were some great trips to the west coast for 6 weeks, followed by trips to Florida, and Washington DC in subsequent years.  As the kids entered high school, Ethel went back to work at an insurance company in downtown St. Paul, a position she enjoyed.

She separated from Orville in 1982. She married Forrest Frownfelter in 1989, and moved to Hat Island in Puget Sound near Seattle, Washington. She left him in 1992 and moved back to St. Paul.

Grandchildren arrived between 1989 through 2003. Being a grandmother was very fulfilling, expanding her circle of caring and love. She made it a priority to be there when each one was born.

Ethel met Arnold Wesemann in 1997 at a Glacier National Park campground. In 1998 they embarked on an exciting traveling life together seeing sights, visiting friends and relatives, and meeting many new people. None were strangers after spending time with her. Ethel quickly embraced Arnie’s family as warmly as her own and enjoyed many events and memorable celebrations with them. In 2009 they settled down for a few years in Arnie’s home town of Bellevue, Nebraska.

Sadly, Ethel had to leave her partner of 17 years and moved to Conrad in 2015. Her health had begun to deteriorate, and she decided it was time.

She is survived by her children Nancy (John) Mayer of Albert City, Iowa; Craig (Carol) Borchard of Mendota Heights, Minnesota; Randy (Diane) Borchard of Gilbert, Arizona; and Pamela (Matthew) Wittmier of Conrad, Montana; and blessed with 11 grandchildren, Claire, Brittnee, Colleen, Rachael, Ruth (Keagan Tice), Annabell, Cordell, Rebekah, Justin, Ethan and Noah and two great-granddaughters, Shale and Opal. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Ellen; siblings Mabel, Lillian, Edwin, Edith and Ruth; and her spouses and partner.

Ethel will be missed by her immediate family and grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and their children; and all of her ‘adopted’ family and friends. Many of whom describe her as very kind and tender-hearted, a person who sees just the good in others and always has a smile and love to share. Her legacy will not be forgotten, living on in the memories of all the many people she loved. Those that took care of her will understand the following sentiment: Go have a piece of chocolate and remember me. Life is too short.