Cowman, Bethine – 1918–2011

COLE, COWMAN, DE VRIES, MISKO, RANDALL, VERTREES, WILLSON

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 6/7/2011 at 13:14:34

Bethine Cowman, 92, of Prairie City died Sunday, May 15, 2011 at Scottish Rite Park in Des Moines.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 19, at the Prairie City United Methodist Church with burial following at Pleasant Hill Cemetery of rural Prairie City. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 18, at Coburn Funeral Home of Prairie City with family present to greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m.
The daughter of Wilmer and Vivian (Vertrees) Willson, Bethine was born on June 24, 1918, in Traer, Iowa. She obtained a teaching degree from the Iowa State Teacher’s College (University of Northern Iowa). Bethine went on to teach one year at Collins Country School near Runnells and later spent 20-plus years teaching in the Prairie City School District. On May 14, 1938, Bethine was united in marriage with Warren Cowman. Together the couple raised two sons. Bethine was a founding member of the Prairie City Historical Society, former board member of the Jasper County Historical Society, member of the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church of rural Prairie City and active in local 4H. She loved playing Bridge and was an avid reader.
Those left to honor Bethine’s memory are her son, James (Betty) Cowman of Ankeny; seven grandchildren, Kaylene (Melvin) DeVries of Prairie City, Mike (Vicki) Cowman of Pella, Myron (Becky) Cowman of Odessa, Mo., LeAnn (Doug) Misko of Chicago, Ill., Lisa Cowman of Chicago, Loralee (Brad) Cole of Bettendorf, Iowa, and David (Melanie) Cowman of Ankeny; 12 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; brother, Keith (Denise) Willson of Des Moines; and special nieces and nephew. Bethine was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Warren; son, Kenneth; sister and brother-in-law, Wilma Jean and Francis “Truck” Randall; and one infant great-granddaughter.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Prairie City Historical Society, Pleasant Hill Methodist Church of rural Prairie City or Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation. Online condolences may be left at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.
Source: Newton Daily News; Tuesday, May 17, 2011