Irene Etterman, 97, longtime resident of Red Lake Falls, MN, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at Hillcrest Senior Living in Red Lake Falls MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN, with Father Bob Schreiner officiating.  A rosary will be prayed at 9:30 a.m. by the Catholic Daughters with visitation one hour prior to the mass.

Irene Mary Washebek was born on June 5, 1925, to Richard and Adella (Ashinski) Washebek in Langdon, ND.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Langdon, ND.  She grew up on a farm outside of Langdon, ND.  She graduated from St. Alphonsus Catholic School in 1943.  She met and married the love of her life, Ed Etterman, on July 30, 1943.

Ed and Irene lived in Langdon, North Dakota and moved to Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, after Ed took a job as office manager at the REA in 1957.  Irene worked at Gambles, Hardware Hank, Eckstein's Department Store, and Hanson's Department Store.  She also provided daycare for her grandchildren.  She liked to work outdoors and took great pride in taking care of her lawn.  She enjoyed shopping, attending family gatherings, having coffee on Saturdays at Memories with the girls, attending mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Saturday evenings followed by supper at Uncle Bill's.  She was a charter member of the Catholic Daughters Court St. Cecelia and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Irene is survived by her son Ken (Judy) Etterman of Sturgeon Lake; her daughter Bev (Steve) Philion of Red Lake Falls; 6 grandchildren: Ronni (Chris) Etterman of Rosemount, Leah (Joel) Hyatt of Prior Lake, Heidi Pedersen of Duluth, Nikki (Mike) Gullingsrud of Red Lake Falls, Kevin (Aleah) Philion of Red Lake Falls, and Kurt (Sara) Philion of Hawley; 13 great-grandchildren: Madeline and Nicholas Hyatt, Ben, Alex, Gracie "Irene" and Corin Gullingsrud, Isaiah, Aubrie, Evann, Ava, and Ahna Philion, and Lainey and Tessa Philion; brothers and sisters-in-law Ann Washebek, Shirley Washebek, Eileen Etterman, Paul (Marie) Etterman, Phebe Ratzlaff, Ann Bergley, Jim (Karen) Etterman, and Pete (Delores) Etterman; many nieces and nephews.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband Ed (1980), her parents Richard and Adella Washebek, all of her siblings Vic (Luella), Ray (Jeannie), Helen (Harry) Hoffman, Don, Lillian (Bill) Domres, Leo, her father and mother-in-law Adolph and Annie Etterman, sisters-in-law Anna Etterman, Gert Wellman, Ruth Steen and brothers-in-law Herb and Rich Etterman, Paul Ratzlaff, Ronnie Steen, Leonard Bergley, and Walter Wellman.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hillcrest Senior Living, Hospice of the Red River Valley, or a charity of your choice.