Ethel Bartylla

 Ethel Bartylla, 97, passed away.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 15, 2026 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Staples. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 16 at the United Methodist Church in Staples with visitation one hour prior to services at the church.

Ethel was born March 25, 1929, one of nine children, to Stella Serena Kay and Ralph (Doc) Henderson Williams. She was raised on her parents’ farm across from Pine Grove Park in Staples. She was a shy girl who loved the outdoors and was a complete tomboy. As a young person she always wished she had been born a boy, as it seemed to her they had more privileges and were taught more about life. As a girl she felt she could not ask questions and grew up very naïve about life. 

In her teens she always sold Buddy Poppies on the Saturday before Memorial Day. On Saturday May 25, 1946, Lawrence Bartylla bought one from her and asked her out on a date. She accepted. They married the following year on June 4, 1947. In the early years of their marriage they moved around, living in Corvalis, Oregon and Detroit, Michigan, eventually settling back in Minnesota. In 1958 they made their home in Lauderdale where they lived until the time they left this earth. 

Ethel and Lawrence raised four children, Linda, Larry, Randy and Dawn. Over the years Ethel worked at Midland Hills Country Club (1960-76) and Twin City Die Castings (1977-84) so they could afford to have Lake Property and be near their families in Central MN. 

Ethel loved gardening, fishing and sewing (especially western shirts) and music. She played the violin growing up and learned to play the organ as an adult. More than anything she loved spending time with family and friends, especially the time she had with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At large family gatherings she always wanted to add to the fun with her guessing games and homemade prizes. It was important to Ethel to stay in touch with her family, so everyone in her circle received cards and letters for birthdays, anniversaries and other holidays. 

Ethel lived a good, long life and now she’s back in the company of the family and friends who left this world before her. I’m sure they are feasting, laughing, and telling great stories.

Memorials preferred to:

-Children’s Heart Foundation - https://events.chfwalk.org/event/chicagoil/account/2355690

-American Cancer Society - https://donate.cancer.org/?

Arrangements by  Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Staples.