Merle C. BEEN
BEEN, SALTZMAN, JOHNSON, TOMSON, HINMAN, BERKLAND, WORDEN, SWINEHART, SCHULZ, DONNER, THOMPSON, HOSFIELD, TINDLE, SOLOMON, DUTTON, MERRILL, REYNOLDS
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/5/2009 at 21:56:58
Wright County Monitor
Clarion, Iowa
May 12, 2005OBITUARY - MERLE C. BEEN
Merle C. BEEN, 72, of Belmond, passed away on Monday, May 9, 2005, at his home in Belmond.
Visitation was held on Thursday, May 12, at the Dugger Ewing Funeral Home, Belmond, from 4-8:00 p.m. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, May 13, at the United Methodist Church, the Rev. Michael DRUHI officiated. Burial was in the Belmond Cemetery. Graveside military rites were provided by the Belmond Honor Guard. The services were under the direction of the Dugger Ewing Funeral Home.
Per Merle's request he would like memorials to go to the Belmond Community School Scholarship 11 Foundation, Belmond Hospital Foundation, Belmond United Methodist Church, Belmond Arts Council-Santa House, Hospice of Wright Co. and the Tingley Community Center.
Merle was born on January 21, 1933, to William "Harley" BEEN and Leona (SALTZMAN) BEEN in Tingley, Iowa. Growing up in a small community, Merle the son of the local barber, kept his roots by attending Tingley functions with friends and family throughout the years.
He completed High School in 1951 and married Doris JOHNSON at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa on October 4, 1952. They began their married life in Newton, Iowa where he was employed by Wilding Plumbing & Heating. Merle (M. C.) entered the armed forces during the Korean conflict. He and Doris lived in the states of Virginia and California until his honorable discharge in 1956. Three children were born to this union, Steven, Jonel, and Rodney.
After service, Merle entered into various positions in Des Moines related to the printing industry, until he decided to "venture" off and start his own printing career. In 1965 he purchased the Town & Country Advertiser of Wesley, Iowa and started The Reminder in Belmond, this led to the beginning of Printing Services Inc. Good friends, Bob & Fern TOMSON played an important part in the early development of the company. The publication and the printing company expanded many times over the years and now houses the main production plant in Belmond, with satellite offices in Mason City and Webster City, Iowa.
In addition to being Owner and President of Printing Services, Inc., Merle was the owner of the Winter Texan Publication and Co-owner of Farm & Home Publishers, City Directory, Inc., Action Associates and True Value Farm & Home. Various other business "ventures" over the years were: Cornbelt Horseman News, Kanawha Reporter, Webster City Shopper, Iowa Falls Shopper, Hampton Shopper, Northwood Office Supplies & Shopper, Britt Town & Country Advertiser, Hunter Ross Publications, American Woods, Wright Fabrication, Model Cleaners, Sports Cages and Ministry Management. One of Merle's favorite mottos was "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained" as was evident throughout his life.
Merle enjoyed being a part of and serving his community. Since 1965 he served as a member and past president of the Belmond Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Belmond Industrial Development Corporation and served with his good friends, George HINMAN and Gary BERKLAND on the Luick Trust for 21 years. He was involved with the Belmond Scouting Program and he was honored with the Outstanding Adult Scouter and the District Award of Merit, and was a Belmond Lions Club member, receiving the Melvin JONES Fellowship Award and the Warren COLEMAN Award. Merle was a charter member, past president and stockholder of the Belmond Country Club. He was an active Jaycee member earning numerous awards including Boss of the Year and Distinguished Service. He was a member of the Lake Cornelia Improvement Association and many of Merle's most enjoyable moments were spent on Lake Cornelia at the cabin with family and friends! Also a member of the Midwest Free Community Papers, where he served as board member and treasurer for over twenty-seven years. Through this organization he was honored with the highest award, Past Presidential Memorial Award and was honored with a Merle C. BEEN night, where he was given an annual scholarship to be awarded in his name.
Merle was a faithful member of the Belmond United Methodist Church and served as an Administrative Board Chairperson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Pastor-Parish Chairperson, Finance Chairperson and Usher, along with various other committees.
Merle & Doris enjoyed many trips through their years, especially when it involved spending time with family and friends along the way. His family meant the world to him, and he cherished each and every one of his 9 grandchildren and was happy to be a part of their lives.
Over the years Merle helped many people get started in ventures of their own and will be missed as a mentor and contributor to the community, as well as a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend and employer.
Left to survive Merle are his wife, Doris; sons, Steven (Jeri) and Rodney (Laurie); daughter, Jonel WORDEN (Brian) all of Belmond; sisters, Maudeene SWINEHART (Bud) of Des Moines, Iowa, Marrabell SCHULZ (Earl) of Vancouver, Washington and Mardell DONNER (Don) of Augusta, Georgia; brother, Milo (Naomi) of West Des Moines, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Lillian BEEN of Palm Harbor, Florida, Nila BEEN of Goodland, Kansas, Chrystal JOHNSON of Waverly, Nebraska, Willie JOHNSON of Newton, Iowa and Cleone THOMPSON, Louise JOHNSON, Cleone HOSFIELD and Pat JOHNSON all of Mount Ayr, Iowa; grandchildren, Linzey WORDEN, Kevin BEEN, Lane WORDEN, Travis BEEN, Landon WORDEN, Corey BEEN, Dana BEEN, Luke WORDEN and Nathan BEEN; as well as a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harley and Leona BEEN; three brothers, Marvin, Mark and Mac; two sisters, Margaret DUTTON and Marilyn TINDLE; father and mother-in-law, Bill and Edith JOHNSON; sisters-in-law, Marian SOLOMON and Gene JOHNSON; brothers-in-law, Charles DUTTON, Max TINDLE, Keith, Clare, Lawrence, MERRILL, Dean and Marvin JOHNSON, Joe THOMPSON, Dale REYNOLDS, Ben SOLOMON and Kenny HOSFIELD.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009
Ringgold Obituaries maintained by Tony Mercer.
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