Etta Marie Kind

Etta Marie Kind, 98, of Dilworth, MN, passed away in Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND, on December 30, 2017.  She was born September 29, 1919 in Osakis, MN, the middle of five children, to Charles and Gladys (Chapin) Betts.  She attended school in Osakis where her father was a teacher.

At age 16, while roller skating at Otte’s barn east of Sauk Centre, she met the love of her life, Vernon E. Kind.  They were married on July 8, 1941 in Osakis, MN.  Shortly thereafter Vern enlisted in the army. While he was stationed in England, Etta moved to Los Angeles, CA with her sister Marcella and worked to support the war effort, until Vern was discharged from the service in 1948.

They moved to Sauk Centre, MN, farming there for many years and raising their two daughters. Etta worked as a waitress in Sauk Centre for thirty years.  Etta and Vern spent many weekends working at the Coliseum Dance Hall.  They thoroughly enjoyed roller skating in their earlier years and dancing always.  Upon retiring from farming they moved to Battle Lake where they both worked at the school.  Etta loved her time as a school monitor retiring in 1988.  They spent their winters in Mission, TX, starting in 1983 and Etta did not miss a winter with her Texas friends, most recently, Dec 6 thru the 14th.

After Vern’s death in 2001, Etta lived with her sister, Marcella Hartigan, in Sauk Centre then moving to Moorhead, MN in 2005, and continuing to winter in Mission, Texas.  She loved her time at Serenity Assisted Living in Dilworth the last four years and really looked forward to her annual time with her Texas friends.  Her favorite pastimes were playing cards with friends and family members, going to Vikings games, spending time growing beautiful flowers, and baking her delicious caramel rolls for all the family members to enjoy. Her greatest joy was spending time with family, especially her five grandchildren and later, twelve great grandchildren.

Etta is survived by one daughter, Sandy (Dan) Skolness, Fargo, ND; five grandchildren, Linda (Brandon) Bakken, Glyndon, MN, Brooke Rogers, Fargo, ND, Rebecca Browning, Frontier, ND, Eric (Vanessa) Skolness, Glyndon, MN, and Brit Skolness, Fargo, ND; twelve great-grandchildren, Payton, Blake, Bricker, and Brody Bakken, Glyndon, MN, Spencer Rogers, Argusville, ND, Elizabeth and Matthew Rogers, Fargo, ND; Tucker, Jack, and Emma Browning, Frontier, ND; Shelby and Jacob Skolness, Glyndon, MN; sister-in-law, Noni Betts, Osakis, MN.  Etta was preceded in death by her husband Vern; parents, Charles and Gladys Betts; daughter, Linda Kind; brothers, Eldred (Agnes) Betts, Charles Betts, Jr; sisters, Opal (LaVerne) Karn and Marcella (John) Hartigan.

Etta’s legacy to all her family was to pray every day for them, which she faithfully did.  Etta’s family wishes to thank all who helped enrich and fulfill her life.  MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS ALL OF YOU.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 5, 2018, at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN at 11:00AM with a visitation 1 hour prior to the service.  She will be laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery, Sauk Centre, MN, next to her husband and daughter at a later date.