Ethel Askerooth

Ethel A. Askerooth, 91, a retired Executive Administrative Secretary at the Agency for International Development, died peacefully in the hospital surrounded by loved ones April 6, 2007, at Sibley Memorial Hospital as a result of complications from pneumonia. She was a long-term resident of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Ms. Askerooth was born in Makoti, North Dakota, March 18, 1916, to Fred and Ida Askerooth. As a young girl, Ethel loved to spend her time reading and writing and dreamed about travel, while growing up on the prairies. The family moved to Valley City, North Dakota, where she graduated from high school in 1933. She attended Valley City State Teachers College completing a two year teaching certificate course in 1935, graduating with honors. She attended Dakota Business College in Fargo and was awarded a business certificate in 1936. Ms. Askerooth worked in many departments for the United States Government starting in 1940, and, specifically, spent the last 32 years working for the Department of State in various positions. Ethel’s positions with the State Department were numerous, rewarding and filled with international travel, excitement and prestige. Ms. Askerooth worked on special projects that required her to have national security clearance at the highest levels. Some of these positions included working for the Hoover Commission, the White House’s Special Projects Division; she also served as a Senior Administrative Assistant with the International Development Advisory Board. Ms. Askerooth was also involved with the United Nations in several high profile international crises such as the international disarmament treaties, the Cuban Missile Crisis and many more special missions which took her overseas. From 1961 until retirement in 1978, she worked with the Agency for International Development (AID) as a Senior Administrative Secretary to several White House appointees. Throughout her career, she received numerous superior performance awards. Ms. Askerooth continued her interest in the arts volunteering to the National Symphony Orchestra Association and to the Salvation Army in Washington, D.C. Her avid reading and interest in foreign events took her and her sister Fern to Europe and specifically to Sweden, the native home of her parents. Ms. Askerooth spent her summers at her lake cabin on Pelican Lake near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. There she enjoyed spending time with her sister and brothers families and entertaining friends. Ethel brought love, light and laughter to all who were fortunate enough to know and love her. Her life will live on through all of us as we live our lives with integrity, full of laughter and honesty and believing in the goodness of all. With many friends in the Washington and the Fargo-Moorhead area and those who moved elsewhere, she kept in contact with them as she maintained her close network of friends and former colleagues. As her high school yearbook says, “She laughs at life and takes her part and always finishes what she starts.” She will be greatly missed by all. Ms. Askerooth is survived by five loving nieces and nephews; Kathrin Muncy Sweeney (Tom) of Tempe, Arizona and their children, Steve (Herlinda) and Lisa Brown (Christopher) and their children Grant and Andrea; Donald W. (Linda) Muncy of Potomac, Maryland and their children, Michael and Laura; Cynthia (Maurice) Askerooth-Olson of Baxter, Minnesota and their child, Kristian; Mark (Karen) Askerooth of Laverne, North Dakota and their children Brent and Ross; and Scott Askerooth of Fargo, North Dakota. Ms. Askerooth was preceded in death by her sister, Fern Askerooth Muncy and brother, Lyle Chauncey Askerooth. A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m. on April 21, 2007, at the Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home in Fargo, North Dakota. Interrment will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Fargo. Friends of Ms. Askerooth may contact the funeral home at 215 South 7th Street; Fargo, North Dakota 58103 or by phone at 701-232-3222. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Valley City Public Library or to Riverside Cemetery.