Lowell Amunson Family

AMUNSON, CLEMON, LORD, CUMMINS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/22/2015 at 10:37:15

Monona County History
1982

Lowell Amunson Family, p 89-90

Lowell and I retired in 1977, staying on the farm, east of Soldier, with all our memories.

Both of us were born in Monona County, Lowell on January 17, 1911, and I on November 24, 1917. Lowell was the third child of a family of ten children of Olaf and Honora (Clemon) Amunson. I was one of two children born to Robert and Nellie (Lord) Cummins.

School days are memories of carefree days of childhood. Lowell attended a rural school for his elementary schooling and graduated from Soldier High School. I attended many schools, mostly in Sioux City, graduating from Onawa High School.

Lowell is from a family of farmers, so it was only natural to choose farming for an occupation. He started farming near his parent’s farm.

He remained a bachelor until he was almost 30 years old when he and I met in the fall of 1939 and we were married in May, 1940. I had been teaching in rural schools around Soldier and Ute for three years. Four children were born to this union, Leonard, Mary, Julie, and Doris.

Our greatest sorrow was the loss of our only son in a car accident involving a drunk driver. He left a wife, Karen, and two sons, Patrick and Andy. Four months later his baby daughter died of a premature birth.

A great joy in our life was being able to send all of our children to college. Three of them, along with two sons-in-law, graduated from Iowa State University.

The girls married and we are blessed with 10 grandchildren, 7 boys and 3 girls, including 2 sets of boy and girl twins.

Both of us have taken part in many civic activities in our community. Lowell has served on the school board and several counties boards and is currently serving on the County Landfill Board.

I was a 4-H leader for 19 years and enjoyed working with the young girls.

We belong to the Soldier Lutheran Church and are involved in its many activities. Lowell served as a church officer and I am still active in Circle and Ladies Aid work.

We are not world travelers, but we have been in a few states. We both went to Texas when our first grandchild was born. I visited one daughter in Maine and this last fall we visited the oldest daughter in Arkansas, from there we went to Louisiana and Mississippi.

The most memorable celebration was the groundbreaking for our new farm home here where we have retired. It was held on Easter Sunday five years ago, the last time our family was all together as Leonard was killed 10 days later.

Mary married Richard Bland on May 29, 1965 he is an accountant with Terra Chemical. They have two sons – Eric and Craig.

Julie is married to William Britton, son of Arnold and Florence Britton. Their wedding day was June 6, 1970. Their children are Jennifer, and twins, Angela and Jason. William is an accountant with Collegiate Pacific in Ames.

Doris married James McBurney of Council Bluffs on June 24, 1973. James is Parts Manager with Skow Machinery in Moorhead. Their three children are Michael, and twins Melissa and Mathew. Submitted by: Esther Amunson.