THURMAN JEROME TONEY was born the third son of Frank and Bertha Toney on

June 25, 1924, in Decatur County in the vicinity of Lamoni. His parents

have been lifelong residents of this community.

Thurman grew up and attended the public schools in the Lamoni area.

On Sept. 25, 1944, he was united in marriage with Miss Betty Jean Riggs.

Thurman sand Betty started their happy life together on a little farm north

of Lamoni and spent seven years in that area. In 1951, after some

consideration, they felt they could better meet the economic needs of their

little family by moving to Des Moines for employment.

In 1961 they willingly yielded to the way of progress when the State Highway

Department asked them to give up the home they cherished on Lyon Street, Des

Moines, because of the Freeway. They busily set about establishing their

home at 1904 East 13th, where the family now lives.

As Thurman felt the responsibility of a growing family, he began to search

for the source of spiritual influence. He believed the truths that he found

in the Restoration Gospel and along with Betty, his wife, and his children

was baptized a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter

Day Saints on Jan. 30, 1955.

A happy home of comfort and love was always the foremost ambition that

Thurman carried. In this he was quite successful, as he worked hard, many

times on a job by day and a job by night, to provide the finances needed.

He was busily engaged in this pursuit when he was so quickly taken from us

in an accident at the Gibbs-Cook Equipment Company on June 3, 1964.

Betty and their children, Lowell Edward, Gary Jerome, Roxy Joyce and Vicki

Jo, her daughter-in-law, Janet, and her two grandchildren and their foster

son, Steve Marker, join with Thurman's father, Frank, and his brother, Jay

L., and family of Lamoni, and brother Gerald D. and his family of Carlisle,

to mourn his passing.

Because of his special abilities to make friends and keep them, the host of

friends and relatives who join in this sorrow are seemingly numberless.

Funeral services were held at the RLDS church in Lamoni on June 5, 1964,

with interment in the Highland Park Memorial Gardens in Des Moines.

Earle & Pat Koeble <mailto:koeble@koeble.org>

http://www.koeble.org