Ethel R. West, 91, residing at Our House Assisted Living and formerly of 3533 Ervin St., Eau Claire, died Friday, February 24, 2006, at Sacred Heart Hospital. She was born on February 7, 1915, the daughter of Aury R. and Martha E. (Clark) Hopkins in Star Prairie, WI.\r\nShe graduated from Spooner Normal School with her teaching credentials and taught elementary school for a short time in the Spooner area.\r\nEthel married Charles E. "Everet" Phelps on October 15, 1935 in Rice Lake. During their marriage, Ethel and Charles had six children. She was very involved with her family. In 1942 the family moved from Spooner to Kenosha.\r\nIn 1947, Charles and Ethel left Kenosha and moved to Eau Claire where Charles worked for U.S. Rubber. He died on March 28, 1958. As her family matured, Ethel became involved in Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and the Camp Fire Girls. She later became a member of the International Order of the Moose. Ethel continued to support her family, working in a number of positions until able to go back to school for teaching.\r\nShe attended Alma Teachers College, and got her license to be a teacher in 1964. She taught school in various places including Mt. Horeb, Boscobel, Blair, Whitehall, and Independence, while retaining her residence in Eau Claire.\r\nOn June 30, 1973, Ethel married Sidney C. West in Moose Lake, MN. Sidney died on September 17, 1977.\r\nDuring her retirement, Ethel worked as a Teachers Aide at Longfellow School assisting the Hmong with their English studies.\r\nEthel is survived by four sons, Gerald (Mildred) of Rock Falls, Robert (Mary) of San Diego, CA, Thomas (Darlene) of Eau Claire, and Joseph Phelps of Eau Claire; a daughter, Martha Ming of Eau Claire; twenty grandchildren; thirty-six great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.\r\nShe was also preceded in death by her infant son, Charles; a granddaughter, Lynn Patterson; a grandson, Michael Hayes; step-grandson Richard A. "Rick" Holte; great granddaughter, Samantha Johnson; three brothers; and four sisters.\r\nFuneral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 2, 2006, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, with Rev. Joel Hoelter officiating. Burial will be in Spooner Cemetery, Spooner, WI. Family and friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.\r\nFamily requests memorials be directed to Sacred Heart Hospital, 900 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701

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