On Christmas day, 1913 in Emmetsburg, Iowa, a little girl, Ethel Berndaine, was born to Lena and Benjamin Benson. Later the family of eight, three girls and three boys, moved to Minnesota where Ethel graduated from Morris High School in 1932.
               
After high school Ethel moved back to Emmetsburg and while working in a café she met Jack Golla, the love of her life. Jack and Ethel were married in 1934.  In the early years Jack and Ethel were in the tavern business in Spencer and Arnolds Park.  They liked to travel and frequently took trips to Florida and California in the winter months.  During the 1950’s and 60’s Ethel worked at the Arnolds Park and Spirit Lake bakeries.  In the 70’s Jack and Ethel moved to California to be closer to their grandchildren.
               
Jack passed away in 1990 and shortly after Ethel returned home to Iowa to be closer to her daughter, Beverly.  Ethel moved into Hilltop Care Center in 1996 where she was home with many friends.  One of her favorite things to do was reading her Bible and for many years has had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
               
Preceding her in death were her folks, Lena and Ben; husband, Jack; brothers, Joe Lyle and Lowell; daughter, Beverly Griffin; and granddaughter, Gigi.
                 
Surviving are her son Jack and his wife Jean and their son, Bodie, all from Reno, NV; grandchildren, Christie Montenegro and Steve Griffin, Spirit Lake, Cindy Tuthill and Greg Griffin, Orange County, CA; sisters Mildred Thompson, Arnolds Park, Verna Hawkinson, Morris, MN; eleven great and two great great grandchildren.

IN MEMORY
Ethel Bernadine Golla
December 25, 1913
November 15, 2007

SERVICE
Turner Funeral Home
Spirit Lake, Iowa
Tuesday, November 20, 2007  2:00 PM

CLERGYMAN
Rev. John Messer

MUSIC
Dru McCarthy, Soloist
Jody Jenness, Keyboard
In The Garden
It Is Well With My Soul

INTERMENT
Lakeview Gardens, Spirit Lake, Iowa

 

When I Come to the End of the Day

When I come to the end of the day
          And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
          Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not too long
          And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love we once shared
          Miss me, but let me go.

For this is a journey we all must take
          And each must go alone.
It’s all a part of the Maker’s plan,
          A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart
          Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds
            Miss me, but let me go.