Ethel Sorensen

Ethel M. Sorensen, 92, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, August 9, 2017, at Amelia Place in Council Bluffs.

Ethel Mae Sorensen was born May 11, 1925, in rural Atlantic, Iowa, to Ralph and Gertrude (Bell) Welton. She attended and graduated from the Atlantic High School. On January 28, 1945, she married Merlin James Sorensen in Elk Horn, Iowa. They farmed north of Walnut, Iowa, until purchasing Sorensen’s Gas & Food Mart in Council Bluffs. They retired from there in 1989.

Ethel was a member of the First Christian Church in Council Bluffs and was involved with Stonecroft Ministries. She also volunteered at Deaf Missions in Council Bluffs.

Those preceding Ethel in death were her husband, Merlin; parents, Ralph and Gertrude Welton; brothers, Max, Bruce, Wayne, Merritt and Robert; and sisters, Ruth Blohn, Betty Parker and Mary Welton.

Surviving Ethel are her sons, Roger and wife, Beverly, of Harlan, IA and Richard and wife, Linda, of Council Bluffs, IA; seven grandchildren, Todd (Rachelle) Sorensen of Brentwood, TN, Corey (Michelle) Sorensen of Harlan, IA, Barry (Emily) Sorensen of Harlan, IA, Tammy (Eric) Shaw of Omaha,NE, Deb (Jeff) Gotch of Papillion, NE, Tracy (Don) Doebelin of Council Bluffs, IA, and Kim (Tom) Milius of Lincoln, NE; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Visitation with family will be from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. with the funeral at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, August 12, 2017, at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa. Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery, Atlantic, Iowa.

Memorials may be directed to Deaf Missions, 21199 Greenview Rd, Council Bluffs, IA 51503.