Richard M. Ethen, 74, of Butler died at 7:59 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, at Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at the funeral home with Father Ted Schelich, chaplain at St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield, officiating.
Burial will be in Elm Lawn Cemetery in Litchfield.
Mr. Ethen was born in Stacyville, IA, on Feb. 19, 1938, the son of the late Louis J. and Laura (Milton) Ethen. He married Ramona Jane (Goby) Horn in Alexandria, MO, on Aug. 11, 2000, and she survives in Butler.
He graduated from high school in Iowa and majored in mechanical engineering at Iowa State University and Iowa University, where he received his bachelor's degree.
Mr. Ethen was employed at Fedders Air Conditioning in Effingham, Industrial Lifters Div. ACCO in Salem, and Crane and Monorail Div. ACCO in Fairfield, IA. He retired in 2001 from Dana Corp. in Litchfield after 13 years as a manufacturing engineer.
He had been a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Eagles, Elks and Moose. He was awarded a patent for a tool while working for Dana Corporation in 1995 and a Manufacturing Improvement Award from ACCO Material Handling Group while at Crane and Monorail Division in 1981. He enjoyed woodworking, model making, yard work, and was an avid racing fan.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Ethen is survived by five children, Todd (wife Lucinda) Ethen of White Bear Lake, MN, Tim (wife Linda) Ethen of Maple Grove, MN, Laurie (husband Gregg) Cottingham of North Mankato, MN, Troy (wife Wendy) Ethen of Hopkins, MN, and Travis (wife Amber) Ethen of Pella, IA; daughter-in-law, Sherry (husband Jeff) Weaver of Austin, MN; stepson, Mark Horn of Pompano Beach, FL; 13 grandchildren, Tyler, Hilary, Dylan, Sheridan, Nate, Ryan, John, Katherine, Cole, Madison, Cydney and Danica Ethen and Ethen Cottingham; and three sisters, Betty Condon of New Haven, IA, Catherine Nordeen of Gaylord, MI, and Barbara (husband Jim) Quinn of Oceanside, CA.
He was preceded in death by one son, Thomas Richard Ethen.
Memorials may be directed to the American Lung Association.
Condolences may be sent online at basspattondeanfh.com.
