DYNES, Leslie C. 1901-2000

DYNES, COOLEY, KUKUK, CHURCH, HOULIHAN, BIGGERSTAF, GOLAY, BARCLAY

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 10/10/2010 at 17:33:25

Decorah Journal, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000

Leslie C. Dynes

Leslie C. Dynes, 99, of Decorah, died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000 at the Aase Haugen Home.

A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 30 at 2 p.m. at the Aase Haugen Home, with Rev. James Dale officiating.

Organist is Rev. Kristen Kvamme. Congregational hymns include "Abide With Me" and "Nearer My God to Thee."

The body was donated to the University of Iowa Department of Anatomy.

Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah handled arrangements.

Leslie Dynes was born in Sabula, Iowa on Nov. 7, 1901, to Mary and Frank Dynes. His mother had immigrated with her family from England in 1880. His father's family had come to the U.S. from England in 1810 and settled first in Canada, moving to Iowa in the latter half of the century. The family moved again to eastern South Dakota about 1910 and farmed there.

He was baptized in the Sunbeam Country Church outside of St. Lawrence, S.D. He attended the Methodist church in Huron, S.D., a non-denominational country church in Pleasant Plains, Ark., and the Glenwood Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. He was also a member of the First Lutheran Church in Decorah.

He married Ruth Cooley in Jan., 1921 in Woonsocket, S.D. They first resided in Huron, S.D., then Aberdeen, S.D., returning to Huron in 1935. After 10 years of marriage, they adopted Carol Biggerstaf Dynes (Golay), a second cousin. A year later, their son Terry was born; he was followed by a red-haired sister, Ginger, two years later.

The family made their home in Huron until he retired from the Northwestern Railroad after 41 years of service as a transfer foreman. They moved to Arkansas a year later, and when their son got out of the Navy in 1964, they
followed with a move to the Decorah area to be near family. They often spent winters in Yuma, Ariz., where Ginger lived.

Ruth Dynes died after 54 years of marriage, and one year later, Les Dynes married Thelma Church in October of 1978. They were married 14 years until Thelma passed away in 1993. The marriage added four children to the family.

The couple lived in Aase Haugen Home together one year before Thelma's death; because of deteriorating health, Les Dynes remained a resident of the home with gradual loss of his physical and mental health. Thelma's daughter, Mrs. Arlene Houlihan of Decorah, has been a constant help with his concerns of aging.

The couple had 22 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren, plus one great great grandchild.

Les Dynes liked to hunt, fish and travel. He was handy around the house and built his own home after his marriage to Ruth. Various card games were always available at his table. He belonged to the Brotherhood Association of Railroad Employees. He was a kindly, quiet, polite man, who enjoyed life, family and his home. He was slow to anger with a sharp wit and easy smile, and was always a gentleman.

Survivors include Terry and Shirley Dynes of Decorah; Howard Kukuk of Yuma, Ariz.; Carol Golay of Apache Junction, Ariz.; Robert and Arlene (Church) Houlihan of Decorah; 21 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Leslie Dynes was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Ruth, on Oct. 15, 1977; his second wife, Thelma, on March 6, 1993, a brother, Jim Dynes; a sister, Grace Barclay; a daughter, Ginger Kukuk on Aug. 12, 1971; a grandson, Mark Dynes on June 9, 1982; and a granddaughter, Marcia Watson on July 6, 1995.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.