Ethel Marie Whalen

Ethel (Sis) Johnson Rojan Whalen, 93, passed away September 10, 2011 at LifeCare Center in Sandpoint. She was born March 22, 1918 in Blitzen, Oregon, 90 miles south of Burns, the daughter of Arvid (Bob) and Rose Johnson. She moved to the Oden area with her parents, her Uncle Frank Kudlata and two older brothers, Arthur and Herbert in 1920. Sis finished eighth grade at Oden School in 1932 and graduated from Hope High School in 1936. She played basketball in high school and later in life enjoyed watching Gonzaga basketball and the Seattle Mariners on TV. She met and started dating Hardy Rojan in high school. She took a post graduate course at Sandpoint High School and started nurses training in Everett, Washington. She didn't care for that so she came home and went to work on a dude ranch with Helen (Zaklan) Johnson in Seeley Lake, Montana. When the season was over she came back to Sandpoint and went to work for Bertha Johnson (no relation). Ethel married Hardy Rojan on September 23, 1942 in Bertha's home. Hardy came back from World War II and went back to work for the railroad. Ethel followed him on his job ending up in Missoula, Montana where he was roadmaster. Hardy died March 3, 1980. Ethel moved back to Sandpoint and bought a house on Rocky Point next to her brother, Robert. In 1981, Ethel's brother Herb introduced her to Russell Whalen at an Elk's club dance where Russ' dance band, The Variations, was playing. They married on August4, 1982. After Russ retired from the Bonner County School disctrict, they traveled the country in their motor home, often attending trap shooting events which were a passion of Russ'. They also traveled through Europe and Scandanavia. Ethel enjoyed fishing, water skiing and cross country skiing, she was an amazing cook, winning awards for her chilli as well as her needlework and was famous for her large family parties. She was a life long member of the Oden Busy Bees. She will be dearly missed. Ethel was preceded in death by her parents and an infant daughter; brothers and sister-in-laws: Arthur, Herbert (Helen), Harry (Anita) and Dorothy Johnson; husbands: Hardy Rojan and Russell Whalen. She is survived by her son Rodney Rojan of Lewiston; step-children: Steven Whalen of Sandpoint, Katy Calios of Morgan Hill, California and Amy Whalen of Sandpoint; grandchildren: Cameron (Maria) and Samantha Calios of Morgan Hill; sister, Betty (Phil) Csorosz of Missoula; brothers, Robert Johnson and Donald (Nancy) Johnson of Sandpoint; sister-in-law, Janie Van Stone of Hope and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held December 27, 1pm at Coffelt Chapel.