Ethel Salina (Lehman) Slabaugh age 91 of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Sunday evening July 15, 2018 at the Sturgis Hospital. She was born to Joseph and Stella (Sharp) Lehman on March 23, 1927 in Kenmore, North Dakota. Her father, a minister, was deceased in North Dakota on October 10, 1928.
Her mother, Stella moved with her 7 children to Fairview, Michigan in January, 1934. Ethel accepted Christ as Savior at 12 years of age. She graduated from Fairview High School… Read More » in 1944.
After attending Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana for 2 year, she attended LaJunta Mennonite School of Nursing, LaJunta, Colorado. She received her R.N. in 1950 and in 1951 she was granted a BSN from Goshen College. On August 14, 1954 she married Daniel Slabaugh in Goshen, Indiana.
They lived in Detroit, Michigan until 1957 when they moved to Whitmore Lake, Michigan. They were blessed with 2 sons and 2 daughters. Dan served as pastor at the Mennonite Church in Pickney, Michigan, until he was called to be ordained for a new Mennonite church in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1966.
Ethel served with her husband helping with children’s activities. She was a homemaker sharing their home with many college students. She also volunteered with Social Services in Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Ethel returned to hospital nursing as medical nurse at University of Michigan Hospital for about 10 years. They moved to Sturgis, Michigan in 1994 and became members of the Marion Christian Fellowship Church, west of Howe, Indiana. She is survived by her husband of nearly 64 years and their sons and daughters: Mark (Lanita) Slabaugh, Dansville, Michigan, Martha (David) Bryja, Farmington Hills, Michigan, Marvin (Elisabeth) Slabaugh, Kalona, Iowa, Mary (Daniel) Carlson, Niskayuna, New York, 3 granddaughters and 4 grandsons.
Also surviving are 1 brother and David Lehman, 2 sisters, Mary Handrich, Josephine (Emery) Swartzendruber, and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, 2 sisters, Ruth Buller and Genevieve Buckwalter, 1 brother Reuel Lehman, 3 sisters-in-law, 3 brothers-in-law, a nephew and his wife and a niece. She had donated her body to be used for research by the University of Michigan.
A celebration of life will be held at Marion Christian Fellowship Church, 5460 N 450 W, Shipshewana, Indiana 46565, (at the corner of State Road 120 and 450) 260-562-2902, Wednesday July 18, 2018 at 6:00 PM. Pastors Ron and Char Roth and Joseph Raber will officiate. The Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-2331 is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Marion Christian Fellowship Missions. The obituary is also at www. hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
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