Ethel Belle Flynn was born on Easter morning, April 8, 1917 at Grant Nebraska. She was the fourth of five children born to Burros and Edna Bell Holaway. The family moved to Denver when Ethel was an infant and she attended school through the 6th grade at the Ashland Grade School. In 1928, the family moved to a farm north of Julesburg. She rode her pony to her country school for her 7th and 8th grade years. She started her freshman year in Julesburg but the family moved back to Grant where she finished high school, graduating from Perkins County High School in 1935. She took normal training in high school and attended a summer session at Kearney State Teacher’s College where she became certified to teach. She taught at Perkins Pride District # 13.

Ethel was married to her high school sweetheart, Gerald “Swede” Flynn on July 8, 1936 at Ogallala. They made their home in Grant until 1939 when they moved to California. In California, Swede and Ethel welcomed three daughters- Frances, Connie, and Virginia- into their lives. The family returned to Grant in 1945 where they operated the Flynn Garage where Ethel served as the bookkeeper for several years. In 1954, Ethel went to work for Consumers Public Power and served as a cashier clerk for 12 years. In 1966, Swede and Ethel moved to Ogallala where she was employed by Nebraska Public Power District until she retired in 1979. Caring for her home and yard, dancing, church activities, playing cards and socializing with friends in Grant and Ogallala provided many happy memories for Ethel and her family.

After Swede’s death in 1981, Ethel moved to Lincoln to be closer to her family. She enjoyed following her grandchildren and attended many of their activities. In 2006, Ethel moved to the Windcrest Assisted Living in Lincoln where she enjoyed all of the activities and would not go far without her make-up and jewelry. She moved to a nursing home in May of 2009 but always maintained her interest in others and her sense of humor. She died on January 9, 2010 in the hospice unit of the Tabitha Nursing Home. She had reached the age of 92.

In addition to her parents and husband, Ethel was preceded in death by her three brothers and one sister. She is lovingly survived by 3 daughters - Fran (Richard) Olson, Connie (Gene) Olson - all of Lincoln and Virginia (Keith) Fidler of Elkorn; 7 grandchildren - Kim (Daniel) Einspahr, Kristi (Jeff) Heng, Kaela (Dave)Stamper, Jodi (Barry) Christensen, Mike (Brenda) Olson, Geralee (Ty) Triplett, and Tiffany Schnell; 24 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandson; other relatives and friends.

Family graveside committal services for her cremains will be held on Thursday May 27 at 2:00 p.m. at the Grant Fairview Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the Community Center in the Hastings Memorial Library from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m. A memorial video of Ethel’s life will be shown.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.