Ethel Sensor, 93, of Decorah, died Friday, July 22, 2016, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.

Memorial services are at 11 a.m., Friday, July 29, at Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Decorah, with Rev. Dale Moe officiating. Organist is Paul Bruvold. Soloist is Don DiLaura ("Go Rest High on that Mountain.") Hymns are "On Eagle's Wings" and "My Faith Looks Up to Thee." Interment is at Lutheran Cemetery Decorah. Arrangements are being handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Decorah.

Ethel Leora Mae Sensor was born March 19, 1923, the daughter of John and Emma (Stoskoff) Matter in the family home, located near Matter's Ballroom, Decorah. Ethel attended Clay Hill country school and Decorah High School. Ethel enrolled in beauty school in Waterloo and returned to Decorah to work at Alice's Beauty Shop.

She married Galen Sensor Jan. 22, 1944, at the First Lutheran Parsonage in Decorah. To this union, two children were born: Linda and Chuck.

Together they farmed north of Decorah and then moved to Illinois in 1964, where Galen took a job as an instructor with Tri-State Breeders. This job took them to Nebraska, Idaho and North Dakota, before returning to Decorah in 1979. Ethel worked at Aase Haugen Nursing Home in housekeeping, until she retired in 1996.

Ethel enjoyed gambling, playing cards, visiting with all, but she especially loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ethel was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Decorah.

Ethel is survived by her daughter-in-law, Marilyn Sensor, Decorah and her son-in-law, Edward (Ann) Roed, Waukon; five grandchildren: Brenda (Todd) Fisher, Waterloo; Brian (Wendi) Roed, Cedar Falls; Kevin (Alana Fatta) Sensor, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Kim (Matt) Becker, Des Moines; and Karla (Carlton) Bakken, Decorah; eight great-grandchildren: Zach and Kristen Roed; Kira and Kieren Sensor; Curtis and Jeffrey Becker; Koryn and Karmyn Bakken; one sister, Margaret Sorenson, Decorah; along with many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, John and Emma Matter; her husband, Galen Sensor in 1991; her daughter, Linda Sensor Roed, in 1985; her son, Chuck Sensor, in 2003; four sisters: Florence Lansing, Hattie Keefe, Alma Harvey and Bernice Landswerk; five brothers: Willard in infancy, Elmer, Leonard, Walter and Roger Matter.

Obituary & photo published by Decorah Newspapers Friday, July 22, 2016 2:55 PM
Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Decorah