Donald C. Bedford 1920 - 1997

BEDFORD, COLLETT, JOHNSON, HOAR

Posted By: Connie J Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/1/2014 at 15:04:21

17 December 1997

Donald C. Bedford, 77, of Onawa, Iowa died Thursday, December 4, 1997, at his winter home in Apache Junction, Arizona following a long illness.

Memorial services were held at Victory Lutheran
southwest of Onawa. He graduated from Onawa High School in 1938 and assisted his parents on the farm until 1944 when he entered the U.S. Army. He served until 1946, with 18 months spent in the European theater. After discharge he returned to farming and provided care and support for his parents.

In 1946, he married Gertrude L. Collett. She died in 1950. August 1, 1951, he married Amy (Johnson)
Church, Mesa, AZ on Monday, December 8.

Graveside services are planned for a later date in Onawa.

Mr. Bedford was born August 23, 1920, the youngest of four children born to James R. and Ethel (Hoar) Bedford on the family farm Stender of Moorhead. They continued to live on the family farm until retiring. They have enjoyed 16 winters in Arizona.

Mr. Bedford served on the West Monona Community School Board, the Farmer's Co-op Elevator Board as secretary and at the Monona County Fair as superintendent of the cattle division for 41 years. He raised purebred Angus cattle for many years. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran and Faith Lutheran churches and was a 4-H leader. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and travel.

Survivors include his wife, Amy, a son, Ron of Cedar Rapids, IA, a sister Faye A. Terry of Minneapolis, MN, and a brother and his wife, Leslie and Betty of Richfield Springs, NY, two sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, and a sister Fern Koithan.

Memorials may be directed to either Lutheran Hospice at 1325 N. Fiesta Blvd. #1 Gilbert, AZ, or the Hospice Program of Burgess Memorial Hospital at Onawa, IA.