Dr. Martin Biddison (1899-1949)

BIDDISON, FOSTER, GLAZE, WRIGHT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/23/2020 at 13:35:28

From Nevada Evening Journal January 28, 1949 (page 3)

Church Filled To Capacity At Biddison Rites

Funeral services held Thursday afternoon at 2:30 at the Nevada First Methodist church for Dr. Martin Biddison, 49, whose death on Monday morning at Mary Greeley hospital in Ames from heart complications brought wide-spread sorrow, were attended by a group which almost taxed the entire capacity of the church.

The exceptionally large number of floral offerings which extended across the entire front of the church, and also in the choir loft; and the many memorial offerings of money to be used in his memory, and the large number in attendance were outstanding tributes to the life and activities of Dr. Biddison in this community. They were out-pourings of love and esteem seldom accorded an individual.

The flowers were arranged by Mrs. W. L. Lawhorn, Mrs. Lee Riddlesbarger, Mrs. Belle Henrehan, Mrs. Clementine Greer, Mrs. Hubert Hefflefinger and Mrs. C. A. Ryan.

The pall bearers were Dr. H. L. Gulden, Dr. E. S. Honsinger and Dr. Bert Adams of Ames, Don Jay, Nevada, Clinton McElyea of Ames and DeForrest Matz of Marshalltown.

Mrs. Ann Donnelson, Ames, sang, "Sunrise Tomorrow" and "After" with Mrs. Norman D. Dobson of Nevada, organ accompanist.

The funeral services were in charge of the Reverend Harold Scholes of the Campus Baptist church, Ames, and the Reverend J. Neal Clemmer of Luther, both of whom paid tributes to the fine Christian attributes exemplified in the life of Dr. Biddison during the nearly quarter of a century he had lived and worked in this community. Spiritual words of comfort were spoken to the bereaved relatives and to the many friends who mourn his passing.

Mrs. Dobson, at the organ played "Crossing the Bar" at the opening of the service and conducted with much-loved hymns while the large concourse of people passed the bier at its close.

Committal, which was to have been held at Leon today, has been postponed until Saturday because of snow-blocked highways.

The following brief life story of the deceased was read by Reverent Scholes during the funeral service.

Obituary

Dr. Martin Biddison, son of the late Albert Biddison, of Leon, Iowa, was born April 29, 1899 in Leon, Iowa and went to be with his Lord, January 24, 1949 at the age of 49 years, 8 months and 26 days.

He graduated from Leon high school in 1919 and from the American School of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Mo., June 1923. Dr. Biddison practiced his chosen profession one year in Leon, Iowa before moving to Nevada, where he has lived 24 years.

Dr. Biddison was joined in marriage to Miss Letha Foster of Hannibal, Mo., June 3, 1935. To this union two children were born. One son, Robert M. and one daughter, Virginia.

Dr. Biddison was one of Nevada's outstanding citizens. He was ever on the alert to work for community good. Endowed with a deeply religious nature, he was active in everything for the betterment of the community. Dr. Biddison was a member of the First Methodist church of Nevada for 24 years and Sunday School superintendent for some 17 years. He was a member of the Nevada Community club and had been one of the organizers of the C.P.I. Club of young men in Nevada.

Dr. Biddison was interested in all outdoor activities. He loved his garden and flowers spending many of the early summer morning hours nurturing their growth and beauty. He enjoyed the many happy hours spent with his family at the lake while engaging in his chief sport, that of fishing.

Those left to mourn his home going are his wife, Letha, one son, Rev. Robert Biddison of Greenville, South Carolina, one daughter, Virginia, a senior in the Nevada high school, two sisters, Mrs. Hattie Glaze of Sedalia, Mo., and Mrs. Blanche Wright of Hollywood, Calif., one brother, Clark Biddison of Des Moines. His aged father, Albert Biddison preceded him in death last April. Joining with these close relatives is a host of relatives, friends and neighbors.

"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lotd." Rev. 14:13.

Out of Town

Those present from out of town were the son and his wife, Rev. and Mrs. Robert M. Biddison, Greenville, S. C.; Clark Biddison, a brother of deceased, Des Moines and Dr. and Mrs. Lowell Glaze, sister and brother-in-law of Sedalia, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. K. A. Wright and daughter of Webster City; and Mrs. Winnie Biddison of Des Moines; Mrs. Margaret Foster, mother of Mrs. Biddison, Mrs. Margaret Couch, and Mrs. Lucille Foster, her brother, of Hannibal, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Clinton McElyra, Ames; Mr. and Mrs. Owen Womack, Ames; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Opstad, Iowa City; Rev and Mrs. J. N. Clemmer, Luther; Rev. and Mrs. Harold Scholes and son, Ames; and numerous friends from out of town.