Ronald & Phyllis Kelly

KELLY BENSLEY EVELETH GRAHAM

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/21/2010 at 16:04:33

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Ronald and Phyllis Kelly
By Phyllis Kelly

Ronald Ferrell Kelly, the son of Ferrell Earl and Mary E (Bensley) Kelly, was born December 2, 1933, at Dorchester, Nebraska. Phyllis Jean Eveleth, daughter of Leon Edwin and Cecile G Graham Eveleth, was born March 10, 1937, at Salix, Iowa.

Ronald and Phyllis were united in marriage, February 6, 1956, at the Community Church in Salix, with Rev John Hantla, Sr ad Rev John P Hantla, Jr officiating. They were married during Ronnie’s ten day leave after basic training, with the U S Army at Camp Chaffie, Arkansas. He was then sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, and then in May to Fort Benning, Georgia. In June Phyllis joined Phyllis and they made their first home in Columbus, Georgia, near Fort Benning until he was sent to Germany, at which time she returned to live with her mother, Cecile Eveleth. After serving a year there, Ronnie returned home completing two years of duty.

Ronald and Phyllis are both graduates of Salix High School. She attended school at Salix from kindergarten through graduation while he attended school at Climbing Hill, Hornick, and Salix. After graduation Ronnie worked at Swift and Company. In 1955 Phyllis worked for Universal C.I.T. Credit Corporation in Sioux City, Iowa. In March, 1958, they moved to a farm two miles south of Salix, where they presently live. Both are active in the Community Methodist Church in Salix where they serve on the official church board. They previously taught Sunday school, and Ronnie served a few years as Sunday school superintendent. Phyllis is a member of the United Methodist Women’s Society. Ronnie has worked for Swift’s for thirty years and also serves on the board of directors of the Swift Credit Union.

They have two children: Richard Ronald, born July 31, 1959; and Deborah Jean, born November 25, 1967. Richard married Mona Fracisco, daughter of Sydney and Norma Olmstead of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, on June 9, 1979. They were married at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Elk Point, South Dakota. They have a son, Chad Richard, born September 21, 1982, and a daughter, Kala Lynn, born January 2, 1984.

Deborah is a sophomore at Westwood High School at Sloan, Iowa, where she is active in vocal and drill team. Deb is also a member of the Rainbow Girls, Morningside Assembly. She is an assistant Sunday School teacher and a M.Y.F. member at the Salix Community Church. She also enjoys traveling and camping with her family.