Laura Barbara Klein Cummins 1905-2003

CUMMINS, KLEIN, BILHARZ, DREESMAN, GUINN, PREBLE, NEMMERS, RICHARD

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/4/2014 at 21:51:45

Laura Cummins
Estherville – Funeral services for Laura B. Cummins, 97, of Armstrong will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 6 at the United Methodist Church in Armstrong with the Rev. Lyndon Roesler officiating. Interment will be held at Armstrong Grove Cemetery in Armstrong. She died on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003 at Valley Vue Care Center in Armstrong.

Visitation will be held from 4:30 -7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5 at the Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home in Armstrong.

Laura was born on April 21, 1905 in Estherville, the daughter of Peter and Barbara (Bilharz) Klein. She graduated from Estherville High School in 1923. While attending school Laura took a Normal Training Course and after graduation attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls.

Laura taught at the Huntington and Estherville rural schools until her marriage to Ralph Cummins on July 14, 1926. Following their marriage the couple farmed in the Estherville and Armstrong area for nineteen years before moving to Armstrong in 1945 when they purchased the Rolling Skating Rink.

They owned it for a few years and then Laura began serving dinners and lunches at the Armstrong Sale Barn. She became a cook at the Armstrong Consolidated School in 1953, and in 1956 attended Iowa State College for the Hot Lunch Program and then became head cook until the late 1960’s. She then worked at the Armstrong Library as Librarian until 1974.

Laura’s pastimes were sewing, music, writing poetry, reading, playing cards, crocheting, working crossword puzzles, TV game shows and watching the Chicago Bulls basketball team. She became a resident of Valley Vue on Oct. 30, 2000.

Laura was a member of the United Methodist Church in Armstrong; the Rebekah Lodge; the Royal Neighbors; and the Armstrong Senior Citizens. She also belonged to several 500 card clubs and loved to use her big house to entertain her many friens.

Laura is survived by one son, Dale Cummins and his wife, Burnetta of Armstrong; one daughter, Donna Dreesman of Titonka; grandson, Jerry Dreesman; foster grandchildren, Lonnie, Vance and Hunter Guinn; Belinda Guinn Nemmers, Kelly Quinn Preble; and many nieces and nephews.

She has been preceded in death by her husband; parents; one sister, Ethel Richard; six brothers, George; Henry; Otto; Andrew; Roy; Harry; and son-in-law, Dennis Dreesman. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 3, 2003)

----------------------------------

ARMSTRONG, Iowa--Services for Laura B. Cummins, 97, of Armstrong will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church, Armstrong. Burial will be in the Armstrong Grove Cemetery.

Cummins died Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003, at Valley Vue Care Center, Armstrong. Visitation will be 4:30-7 p.m. Sunday at Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home, Armstrong.

Laura Barbara Klein was born April 21, 1905, in Estherville, daughter of Peter and Barbara (Bilharz) Klein.

Survivors include: son, Dale Cummins of Armstrong; daughter, Donna Dreesman of Titonka; one grandson.

Source: Fairmont Sentinel, Fairmont, Minnesota, January 3, 2003.