Ethel Slabaugh, 91

Ethel Salina (Lehman) Slabaugh, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday evening July 15, 2018, at Sturgis Hospital.
She was born March 23, 1927, to Joseph and Stella (Sharp) Lehman in Kenmore, N.D.
Her father, a minister, was deceased in North Dakota on Oct. 10, 1928. Her mother, Stella moved with her seven children to Fairview in January 1934.
Ethel accepted Christ as Savior at 12 years of age. She graduated from Fairview High School in 1944. After attending Goshen College in Goshen, Ind., for two years, she attended LaJunta Mennonite School of Nursing in LaJunta, Colo. She received an RN in 1950 and in 1951 she was granted a BSN from Goshen College.
On Aug. 14, 1954, she married Daniel Slabaugh in Goshen. They lived in Detroit until 1957, when they moved to Whitmore Lake. They were blessed with two sons and two daughters. Dan served as pastor at Mennonite Church in Pickney until he was called to be ordained for a new Mennonite church in Ann Arbor 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.
Ethel returned to hospital nursing as a medical nurse at University of Michigan Hospital for about 10 years.
They moved to Sturgis in 1994 and became members of Marion Christian Fellowship Church west of Howe, Ind.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 64 years and their sons and daughters, Mark (Lanita) Slabaugh of Dansville, Martha (David) Bryja of Farmington Hills, Marvin (Elisabeth) Slabaugh of Kalona, Iowa, and Mary (Daniel) Carlson of Niskayuna, N.Y.; three granddaughters; and four grandsons. Also surviving are a brother, David Lehman; two sisters, Mary Handrich and Josephine (Emery) Swartzendruber; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents; two sisters, Ruth Buller and Genevieve Buckwalter; a brother, Reuel Lehman; three sisters-in-law; three brothers-in-law; and 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 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, 2018, at Marion Christian Fellowship Church, 5460-N 450 W, Shipshewana, Ind. (corner of SR 120 and 450). Pastors Ron and Char Roth and Joseph Raber will officiate.
The Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Marion Christian Fellowship Missions.
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.