Ethel Deegan

Ethel Deegan, age 67, of Mahnomen, MN, died Tuesday, March 18, 2014, at her home under Hospice care and surrounded by family. Ethel “Tinker” Wadena was born on December 28, 1946, in Warroad, MN, to Leonard and Helma (Thompson) Wadena. She grew up and attended grade school in the Warroad area, and then moved to Minneapolis, MN, at the age of 14. As a young adult, she married Leroy Anderson, and traveled around the world as a military wife. Together they raised their five children until their separation. Tinker then moved back to Minneapolis where they met, and married, the late Earl Hoagland. They had one son together and in the mid 1970s they moved their growing family permanently to the Naytahwaush area. During this time Tinker learned to make a living with birch bark crafts. Most of the time you could find her sitting in front of her kitchen window sewing birch bark. She continued to sew and sell her birch bark crafts until she suffered a hand injury. As her children got older, she furthered her education at Bemidji State University pursuing a degree in Sociology. She volunteered her time for school aged children with various fund raising activities, often as the role of the cook. In 1997 she met David Deegan, and in 2001 she married for the last time. Together they raised David’s three children. They settled in Mahnomen, where David worked as a blackjack dealer. Tinker very much enjoyed trying to beat the machines at the casino. Often you could find her and David sharing the same machine. Whenever they won, a trip to Detroit Lakes was in order. Throughout her life she enjoyed the company of her grand and great grandchildren. Tinker spent her life raising children, and her grandkids were no different. Her love for them knew no boundaries. Tinker has touched the lives of many people in the community, and will be forever missed. Her family will make sure her memory is never forgotten. Ethel is survived by her husband, David Deegan of Mahnomen, children; Paula Littlewolf, of Mahnomen, Melvin (Chris) Anderson, of San Diego, CA, Robin Anderson of St. Cloud, MN, Andrea (Jeff) Anderson of Cass Lake, MN, Leonard (Dena) Anderson of Mahnomen, and David (Loretta) Hoagland of Naytahwaush, MN, stepchildren; Michael Deegan of Elk River, MN, Gus Deegan of Mahnomen, and Ellen Deegan of Shakopee MN., brothers; Leonard Wadena of Naytahwaush, Donald Hunt of Mahnomen, Bill Hunt of Minneapolis, Steven Hunt of Minneapolis, sister, Lynette (Joel) Londo of Naytahwaush, 20 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leonard James Wadena and Helma Rae Wadena, sister, Josephine Biskey, and son, Anthony Eugen Anderson. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Samuel Memorial Church in Naytahwaush, MN. Visitation will be at the church beginning on Monday, March 24, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. and will continue until the Funeral Service. Interment will be held at Free Gospel Alliance Cemetery, Naytahwaush.

Ethel Deegan

December 28, 1946 - March 18, 2014