Ethel Lorraine Dybvig

Ethel L. Dybvig, age 89, of Dell Rapids, formerly of Baltic, died on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at Terrace Manor in Dell Rapids.

Funeral services will begin at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 6, 2010 at the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids.

Visitation will begin at 2:00 P.M. Friday, with the family present from 5-7:00 P.M. at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids.


Ethel was born on January 19, 1921 near Crooks in Lyons Township in Minnehaha County, South Dakota to Bernt and Dorthea (Sater) Sagmoe. She came from a large family of eight children. She was baptized at West Nidaros Lutheran Church and confirmed at the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids. She began her education in country school, which happened to be taught by her older sister, Ovidia. In middle school, she moved to Mohall, North Dakota and in high school to Dell Rapids. She was crowned the first Homecoming Queen of Dell Rapids High School. Following her education, she began a short career as a hairdresser and beautician.


On June 15, 1941, Ethel married Clarence Dybvig at the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids. They moved to the farm near Baltic and lived in the nursery buildings until purchasing the farm house. She was always active on the farm helping to detassel corn, garden and perform other various chores. She was also a good hunter in pheasant season, and at least once “out-of-season.” She loved to cook and prepare foods such as cinnamon rolls, baked beans, hamburger soup, sour cream on bread, and pheasant. Ethel enjoyed canning and freezing fruits, meats and vegetables, especially corn. She was known by her family for her Norwegian flatbread and signature rhubarb pie.

Ethel was active at the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids, where she participated in the choir, Ladies Aid, taught Sunday School and sang at funerals. She had a beautiful singing voice and was a member of the Quarrytones Sextet. In later years, she became active in the American Legion Chorus.


Ethel enjoyed traveling to the Black Hills, Yellowstone, Norway and many other destinations. She spent winters in Texas and was active in the Lutheran Church there. She took up the game of golf and played it for many years. She was an artist on canvas, creating many beautiful paintings and also did Rosemaling, a style of Norwegian decorative art. Ethel had a talent for flower arranging for which she won awards and an eye for decorating.

Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence; parents; daughter, Sandra; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Dybvig, a granddaughter, Andrea Brosh and seven siblings.


Grateful for having shared her life are her three children: Rev. Ronald (Mary) Dybvig of Ventura, CA; Richard (Deborah Beuckens) Dybvig of Sioux Falls; and Trudy Brosh of Lincoln, NE; five grandchildren: Nathan Dybvig, Shannon Dybvig, Nicole (David) Dybvig-Wirkus, Traci (Bill) Vega and Erick Brosh; and two great-grandchildren: Hunter and Saige Wirkus.