Ethel Mae Flegel

Ethel Mae Flegel 94 of Albany, passed away on Tuesday.

Ethel was born in Geddes, South Dakota to Dorlin and Cecelia Alice (Gavin) Crane. She grew up in South Dakota. At the age of 16 her family moved to McMinnville where she finished High School .

Ethel married Virgil Reetz on July 28, 1939 in Kelso, Washington. They lived in Cottage Grove, Camas Valley, Myrtle Creek, Crescent City, and the Albany area. The couple had five daughters. They were divorced in 1970. On May 31, 1972 she married Rudolph Richard Flegel in Corvallis. The couple lived in Klamath Falls, Cottage Grove and Florence before returning to Albany in 1989.

Ethel worked for the Statesman Newspaper for a time as the Albany correspondent and reporter, and had various other jobs as bookkeeper. She enjoyed writing, gardening, sewing, and camping

Ethel was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albany, and a past member of the VFW and Eagles.

Ethel was preceded in death by her husband Rudolph.

She is survived by daughters Beverly Johnson, Virginia Hale, Merry Parker, Donna Pickett, Nancy Rice; step-daughters Mary Nickoloff and Kathleen Scott; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albany or Benton Hospice.