Mrs. LAWRENCE (Hilma June Moe) RATHBUN 1920-2007
WARREN, MOE, RATHBUN, LEIRAN, ERICKSON
Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/10/2007 at 13:21:50
Hilma Rathbun
Hilma J. Rathbun, 87, of Waterville died Friday, June 8, 2007 at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services will be held Thursday, June 14 at 11 a.m. at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 13 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a VFW Auxiliary Memorial Service at 5 p.m.
Hilma June Moe Rathbun was born May 10, 1920 in Waukon, the daughter of Jacob Hans and Mary Ann "Mame" (Warren) Moe. She grew up in the Village Creek area of Lansing near Thompson's Corner, where she was confirmed at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church and attended rural schools. After her schooling she did housekeeping work for a family in Minneapolis and then lived with relatives in Wisconsin for a time.
She returned to Northeast Iowa, where May 7, 1942 she married Lawrence Richard Rathbun at the Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville. Hilma soon became a busy mother and homemaker as she raised her nine children and tended to their needs. After the youngest were a little older, she went to work in the office area at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, was a home health aid for several years, and sold World Book Encyclopedias. During that time she also managed to earn her GED.
Hilma was a member of Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church and, while the children were young, of Waterville Lutheran Church. She was active in the women's circles at both places and taught Sunday School in Waterville. She was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary in Waukon, Waterville Booster and Sr. Citizens Clubs, Golden Girls Card Club and Browning Club. She enjoyed handiwork and spent a lot of time sewing, crocheting and weaving rugs. Working in her yard, raising plants both indoors and out, and feeding and watching the birds were some of her other favorite pastimes. She also enjoyed reading to stay up on current events, visiting with her many friends, and traveling with Lawrence to see their children.
Survivors include six children, Lynn (Angela) Rathbun of Alda, NE, Lee (Nobuko) Rathbun of Minden, NV, Jim Rathbun, Kurt (Diane) Rathbun and Laurel (Gene) Leiran, all of Waterville, and Eric (Angi) Rathbun of Musela, GA; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Walter Moe of Florida.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Lawrence, who died in 1997; three children, infant son Lawrence, and David, and Elizabeth Erickson; a grandson, Michael Erickson; and three brothers, Marvin, Louis Atkin, and Karl Moe.
Honorary pallbearers are Ruby Rathbun, Jean Huffey, Ruby Olson and Joyce Shogren.
The Waukon Standard, June 13, 2007
Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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