Wilmer Bradford HOUSER

HOUSER, SCHULTZ, SEVERTSON, PATTERSON, BROOKER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/7/2016 at 16:58:59

June 14, 1914 --- October 13, 1990

Long time Clarion resident and former "Wright County Monitor" publisher Wilmer Bradford (Bill) Houser died Saturday evening October 13, 1990 at his home in Clarion. He was 76. Funeral services were held Wednesday, October 17 at First Lutheran Church in Clarion. Pastor William Granger officiated and burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion. Eyler-Willim Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. Honorary casket bearers were: Myron Price, Harold Jung, Ed Campbell and Wayne Ebert. Bearers were: Wayne Severtson, Paul Patterson, Dewayne Knoshaug, Richard Simpson and Don Watts. Wayne Ebert was the organist.

W. B. Houser was born on a farm near Plaza, North Dakota, June 14, 1914. His parents moved to Washkish, Beltrami County, Minnesota in 1918 and the next year moved to Quiring. In 1926 they moved to Huntersville, Wadena County, Minnesota. This was the home place until Houser attended the University of Minnesota, majoring in journalism. He graduated in 1938. He did some freelance writing then purchased and published "The Ashby Review" from 1940 to 1943. He married Jean Schultz January 31, 1942. In 1943 they purchased and published "The Marion Record" in Marion, South Dakota. While in South Dakota their daughters Nancy and Elizabeth Ann were born. He took part in community life belonging to the Commercial Club and served as secretary-treasurer of the Marion, S.D. Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member of the Turner County Republican party, a member of the South Dakota Press Association, National Editorial Association and served as secretary of the Third District Press Association in South Dakota. In 1956 he sold "The Marion Record" and purchased and published "The Wright County Monitor" in Clarion. He sold the Monitor in 1979 when he semi-retired but he and his wife, Jean, continued to operate Clarion Office Supply until 1988 when they retired.

Always a member of the Chamber of Commerce, he was also a Rotarian, a Paul Harris Fellow, a member of Toastmasters, a life member of the Iowa Numismatic Association, member of the Clarion Development Commission, member of the Iowa Genealogical Society. He served as president of Rotary Club, Wright County Genealogical Society and was very active in the Clarion Coin Club, holding all of the offices at one time or another. Houser was very active during Clarion's Quasquicentennial in 1990 and was instrumental in publishing the souvenir book. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church He is listed in Who's Who in Minnesota, 1941 and Who's Who in the Midwest, 1954. He was an active member of the Clarion community and in his quiet way, he got things done.

Survivors include his wife, Jean; two daughters; Mrs. Wayne (Nancy Jean) Severtson of Laurel, Montana; Mrs. Paul (Elizabeth Ann) Patterson of Columbia, Maryland, five grandchildren; Lynette, Rebecca and Christina Patterson, Julie and Eric Severtson, one sister, Mrs. Walter (Myrl) Brooker of Aurora, Indiana and two brothers, Roland of Hoyt, MN and Wesley of Montrose, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers; Paul and Millard and a sister, Florence.

October 18, 1990
Wright County Monitor -- Clarion, Iowa