Ethel was born on a frosty morning, Feb. 25, 1930, at the ranch house in Blaine County, Neb. She joined a sister, Mary, and two brothers, Raymond and Kyle, the youngest child of Mark and Minnie (Goldman) Turner.Ethel attended school in this remote sandhill country, graduating as valedictorian of her high school class. She continued her education earning an AC degree from Kearney State Teachers College, now University of Nebraska, Kearney campus. In 1972, she received her master's degree in business education from the University of Wyoming.Ethel started teaching in a rural school of grades k-8 in Nebraska. She taught in Alaska, Wyoming and Montana. She retired from the world's western most college - Northwest Community College, University of Alaska, Fairbanks after 33 years.Ethel always thought people who knew how to read were the luckiest people in the world. She lived by her creed of making the world a better place.She married the love of her life, Fred S. Payton Jr., in 1953. This home was blessed with two children, Lois and Scott. They grew up in Alaska.Her hobbies were reading, sewing and traveling. She visited all 50 states and traveled extensively in the world. Sewing included many quilts for family, friends and charity.She leaves her many friends with happy memories they shared. Survivors are son, Scott Payton of Kansas City, Mo.; brother, Ralph Turner of Colorado; and son-in-law, Gary A. Wilson of California.Arrangements are with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel.