Cheryl R. Ehlers

     Cheryl Rae Cutt Ehlers, 74, of Rowley, MA, passed away peacefully on September 15th, 2020, at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, MA.

     Cheryl was born on June 10th, 1946, in the small farming community of Hallock, Minnesota, to Virgirl and Nora Cutt, née Peterson. Right from the start, Cheryl didn’t play by the rules. Never satisfied by the expectations of her gender, she spent the majority of her youth attending to her family’s dairy herd. The hard work of rural life didn’t come without its payoffs though: she forged a close relationship with her father, became an accomplished rider on her horse, Pretty Boy, and reigned, albeit only for her region, as the Minnesota Dairy Princess. The rural charm of northwestern Minnesota couldn’t hold her, and soon after she wed the love of her life, Pete M. Ehlers, on April 15th, 1967, they left Hallock, Minn., to make it on their own. They first settled in Bismarck, North Dakota, where Cheryl raised their two boys and worked an odd job or two to support her husband’s burgeoning career as an itinerant steel worker. But with the desire to have a career of her own, she first managed and later owned Construction Specialities, Inc., proudly becoming one of the first female owners of a construction company in the Upper Midwest. Afterwards, Cheryl and Pete temporarily moved to Vilamoura, Portugal, where she immersed herself in the community, making lasting friendships with those she met. In 1990, Cheryl and Pete returned stateside, where they bought a few acres of land in Rowley, Mass. and built a house of their own design; a home that acted as a beloved gathering place for their close friends and immediate family. 

     Cheryl is preceded in death by her mother Nora Peterson Cutt and father Virgil Cutt ; Dianne Cutt sister and Carroll Cutt Potrament. 

     Cheryl is preceded by her sons: Shane M. (Mary) Ehlers and Shelley R. (Pia) Ehlers; his daughter: Jennifer A. (Keith) Hembre & her family; his grandchildren: Travers H. Doane, Erica M. Dewitt, Easton J. Ehlers, Christian Ehlers and Hannah Ehlers.

     A private graveside service will be held on September 23, 2020 at 11:00 a.m., at Main Street Cemetery, Rowley.  In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Alzheimer and Dementia organizations for research.

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