ETOLA (HICE) SEGERDAHL

Etola, the Daughter of Forrest and Anna ( Passage) Hice, was born April 10th 1931 in Kalamazoo county spending all her life in Schoolcraft Michigan. She came from an era where being frugal was important. She was one of the original true recyclers! At any given point you could look in her fridge and there would be 10 cottage cheese or butter containers, none of which had cottage cheese or butter but rather left overs from some grand meal she had cooked the day before. She always made enough to send some home with whomever was there. If you left her house hungry then there was just something wrong with you!! Her kitchen table was a gathering point for so much love, food and family conversations. Etola was everyone's “Rock”!! At anytime anyone needed food, a hug,a kiss and a non-judgmental ear she was there. She was love and guidance for so many. Indeed a beautiful soul inside and out.

On January 14th, 1949 she was united in marriage to Arthur Segerdahl Jr. Arthur was often call Uncle Johnny to his nieces and nephews. He was a fun loving farm boy that played the Accordion in several country bands at Three Rivers Eagles Club and Pop Johnson's in Sturgis. They then raised their family of 5 children on the farm. It was a big beautiful farm on Oakland drive with many areas of corn, soy bean and cattle. They often had Arthur's mother Maja ( pronounced Mya),who's originally from Sweden, come stay the weekends at the farm. Every Sunday was a big cooking day for Etola and Maja. It was a family ritual to have a 3 course meal on Sunday. Many memories and great conversations happened over those meals. One year they didn't have a 3 course meal for Thanksgiving but rather a “hot dog Thanksgiving”. They had just gotten a new “colored” Tv the week before Thanksgiving. Everyone so enjoyed the new TV that no one thought to go to town for a turkey. A snow storm hit that year and well guess what, no Turkey!! no complaints about eating turkey for a week because that year there was none, but instead Hot dogs!! It always bugged Etola that out of all the grand meals she cooked the children remembered the “hot dog Thanksgiving” the most. Etola was known for her cherry pies, filled sugar cookies and a general love of feeding you!

Etola loved being a grandmother. She would often sit with her granddaughters on the stairway at her home and pretend they were going to town in a horse and buggy to go shopping. They would actual travel back to her bedroom and put on every article of fancy clothing and jewelry she had. Being dressed to the hilt they would get back in the pretend buggy and drive home. The dressing up went as far as white gloves and putting on all the Avon jewelry ever sold. Oh and we can't forget the beautiful sun hats. Red ones , white one , you name the color and she had one to match. As the grandchildren got older they would get great stories of days gone by. The result was always a belly ache and tears from much laughter. A fun loving grandmother she was.

In her free time she enjoyed china painting and cross stitching. In 2016 she won her first 4H blue ribbon with the help of her friend Martha Tice. Martha entered Etola's cross stitched pillow at the local fair and she took a first place ribbon.

Many times Arthur, her husband, would come in from a hard day of farming, drink a “hot tottie” and chase grandchildren around with his teeth/dentures hanging out. Arthur was a good provider, father and grandfather. He would play Happy birthday songs on the accordion for the grandchildern. In 1978 he got sick from some chemicals on the farm. He then sold the farm and they retired early in their late 40's to a home on Sugar Island in Schoolcraft, which they both lived in till their passing, Arthur in 2007 and Etola in 2017.

Etola always said she had a good life. She was blessed with 5 wonderful children. Survived by 4 children Howard Segerdahl, Maria (George) Sparks, Arnold Segerdahl and Stuart (Christine) Segerdahl. 10 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren, a brother Clifford (Phyllis) Hice, and a sister Arliss Schroeder. Proceeded in death by her parents, a sister Joyce Homoki, a beloved son Harlod Segerdahl and Husband Arthur Segerdahl. Her wishes were for cremation and for her and her Husband Arthur to be put to rest at the same time. She would like you all to know she will love you all for “ Always”. ( “always” by Patsy Cline.)