She grew up in Bradshaw, Nebraska and there met her husband of 54 years, Gilbert (Gib) Bowman.
She and Gib lived in several places in Nebraska throughout his career with the USDA. They had many friends in Holdrege, North Platte, Beaver City and Broken Bow. Their last move in 1978 was to Lakewood, Colorado where Ethel became the Branch Chief Secretary for the United States Geological Survey.
After retirement, Ethel and Gib were able to spend more time at their cabin at Camp Carmel on Dore Lake in Northern Saskatchewan where they entertained family and friends for many years.
Ethel was an excellent cook and baker. She was coauthor of two books on homemaking and motherhood. She thought nothing of inviting a group for dinner and was always prepared for whatever came up. Hospitality was her greatest gift and hundreds benefited from her always welcoming home.
Ethel wanted to be a mother more than anything and God blessed her with 3 children. She was also blessed with 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Ethel is survived by her three children, daughter Paula (Steve) DeViney, and sons Tim (Lorraine) and Jon. She has 5 grandchildren, Lindsay Moulder (Justin), Matthew DeViney, Michael (Paige) Bowman, Daniel Bowman and Fiona Bowman, and 4 great-grandchildren, Elle, Ethan, Ezra and Emerson Moulder. She is also survived by 3 loving sister-in-laws, Virginia Bowman, Darlene Bowman and Joyce Lindstrom.