Berry, Lyle D. 1920-1998

BERRY, HINK, OLSON, VANDER VEER, VAN ERSVELDE, KINNAIRD

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 9/23/2010 at 13:50:55

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Dec. 28 & 31, 1998

LYLE D. BERRY

Lyle D. Berry, 78, of Montezuma died Monday, Dec. 21, at Brookhaven Nursing Home in Brooklyn.

Funeral services were conducted Thursday at Watts Funeral Home in Montezuma, with the Rev. Dr. George M. Salnave officiating. Organist was Kathleen Ramsey, and soloist was Rhonda Minner.

Casket bearers were Tom Berry, Brad Baker, Randy Reavis, Mark VanDer Veer, Mark Baker and Jim Olson. Honorary bearers were Donald Griffith, Dale McWilliams, Dick Bowers, Gerand Wang, Carl Merical, Lawrence Fleming, Kenneth Schultz and Jim Wang.

Burial was in Jackson Township Cemetery, with military graveside rites conducted by members of Blakley-Stevens American Legion Post No. 169.

A Masonic service was conducted Wednesday by members of Lafayette Lodge No. 52, A.F. & A.M.

He was born in Grinnell March 18, 1920, to Joseph and Sylvia Hink Berry. The family moved to a farm south of Brooklyn where he attended school. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served during World War II.

On Nov. 25, 1947, he was married to Betty Olson. They farmed northeast of Montezuma for several years, then moved to a farm west of Montezuma in 1958. Mr. Berry owned and operated the Berry Blacksmith Shop in Ewart for over 20 years.

Mr. Berry was an active Mason and was a master instructor and district lecturer of the Grand Lodge of Iowa. He was also a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II and the First Presbyterian Church of Montezuma.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Don and Tom, both of Montezuma; two daughters, Ellen VanDer Veer of Moscow, Iowa, and Janet Berry of Montezuma; seven grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and one brother, Joseph Jr. of Buchanan Dam, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Clyde; and two sisters, Dorothy Van Ersvelde and Grace Kinnaird.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Montezuma Volunteer Fire Department Ambulance Fund.