Skewis, Myrtle Delphine 1869-1954

SKEWIS, HOWE, ROSE, BRADLEY

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 8/4/2016 at 08:21:32

Storm Lake Register - Tue, Jan 4, 1955 - Myrtle Delphine Skewis was born May 6, 1869 on a farm near Belvedere, IL to Orsa Fowler Howe and Frances Ohsco Howe. At the age of four she moved with her parents and younger brother, Sanford, in a covered wagon to Palo Alto county where her father took a Civil War veterans homestead on which the family lived for five years.

As a child she knew the life of the Iowa pioneer playing and riding over the prairie, seeing Indians come to the farm, experiencing prairie fires and blizzards, living in a sod house, twisting slough grass for fuel, and watching the weekly stage coach go across country from Fort Dodge to Spencer.

Her father was killed in a hunting accident when she was nine years old and the family moved to Ruthven where she attended school, cared for her invalid mother, and took much of the responsibility for the family.

She was married to Charles Samuel Skewis on Oct 30, 1895 and they moved to Inwood where they made a home for her mother, who died in 1899.

Three daughters were born Dorothy, Margaret, and Elizabeth before they moved to Storm Lake in 1911, where they settled in the home at 303 Lake avenue. She was a member of the Methodist church.

During the latter half of her life she had poor health and several serious illnesses but while confined to her home had continued her life of usefulness and service.

She celebrated her golden wedding anniversary in 1945 with her husband and family. Since 1948 she had lived 10 months of the year in Detroit, MI with her daughter Dorothy returning to her home for the summer months. In July 1954 she came back to Storm Lake for permanent residence and enjoyed her home and friends until she became seriously ill in November. She passed away on Dec 22.

Her husband preceded her in death on June 30, 1949.

She is survived by her brother, Sanford Howe of Inwood; daughters Miss Dorothy Skewis of Storm Lake; Mrs Rufus Rose of New London, CT; Mrs William R Bradley of Tenafly, NJ; and 5 grandchildren.

Services were held Friday Dec 24 from the Hughes Funeral home.