Owatonna Rotary Presents Service Award to Carol Zetah

The Owatonna Rotary Club presented its Service Above Self award to Carol Zetah during Monday's meeting. The award goes to a non-Rotarian whose life exemplifies the spirit of service to others.

A Jackson, MN native, Zetah graduated with majors in sociology, social science and home economics from Minnesota State University in Mankato in 1960. Her commitment to service began at the age of fourteen with the Girl Scouts, where she received a badge for volunteering at a hospital.

Zetah worked in Morrison County in child welfare after graduating from college. She spent over ten years at the Faribault State Hospital as a social worker. Then she became a juvenile probation officer in Steele County, holding that position from 1973 through her retirement in 2000.

Service has spanned many organizations for Zetah. She was a National Big Sister of the Year in 2004. She served as president of Steele County Transitional Housing and on the family selection committee of the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. Zetah has worked with AAUW, the Women's Club of Owatonna and Graduate Women Investors. She has served on the council at her church, Associated Church.

Zetah has also been on the Owatonna City Council and the county's planning and zoning committee. She is a hospice volunteer and a member of Steele County Communities for a Lifetime board.

Previous awards for Zetah include 2013 Pioneer Woman of the Year from the Owatonna Business Women and the Exchange Club's Book of Golden Deeds award in 2006.

Other recent winners of the Paul Harris/Vern White Service Above Self award include Arlan Burmeister in 2016, Dave "Ole" Olson in 2015 and Sr. Franchon Pirkl in 2014.