A Collection of Obituaries From the
Mitchell County (Iowa)
Vicinity
INDEX
Bernice R. Jones Risse Trout
Surnames: Jones, Risse, Trout
(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 19 SEP 1991 )
Funeral services for Bernice R. Trout, 89, of Osage, who died Thursday September 5 at Maple Manor Nursing Home in Osage, were held Monday, September 9 at Champion Funeral Home, Osage, with the Rev. Richard Zellmer officiating.
Bernice Trout was born October 5, 1901 to Jay and Louella Jones of Mitchell.
She graduated from Osage High School and was a student of Cedar Valley [Seminary]. Bernice began her teaching career in 1919 at McIntire, then later took an opening at the Mitchell School System.
She was united in marriage to Harvey Risse in 1925 at which time she transfered to the Marble Rock Schools where both of them taught for the next five years.
She continued her teaching career in the St. Ansgar, Mitchell and Osage schools. For 34 years she was a devoted teacher, providing many children with an ability to learn.
After retiring, she worked as hostess and guide at the Laura Ingalls Wilder home in Mansfield, Missouri. She had become intrigued with the books written by Laura while still teaching and had been involved with the home during the summer months for 22 years.
She spent part of her retirement years in Mesa, Arizona. Bernice was united in marriage March 16, 1976 to Herbert Trout. They resided until 1987 in Patagonia, Arizona before they returned to Iowa in 1987. Bernice was preceded in death by her parents and both husbands.
Bernice was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. She was a Sunday School teacher and organist for many years when the Mitchell Church was active. Of all all her achievements, the most rewarding one was her lifelong love of teaching chidlren to make the best that was possible of their lives.
She will be missed by many including two who consider [her] their second mother. They are Evelyn Bartlett of Waverly and Lois Thomas of Minneaplis, Minn.
Burial was in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Mitchell.
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LoRetta Mae Leidall
Surnames: Leidall, Pope, Myhre, Cahill, Lowe, Joynes, Golberg
(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 26 SEP 1991 )
Funeral services for Mrs. Paul (LoRetta Mae) Leidall, 62, of St. Ansgar, who died Friday, Sept. 20 at home following a brief illness, were held Monday Sept. 23 at Immanuel Lutheran Church here with the Rev. Norman Betke officiating.
LoRetta Mae Myhre Leidall was born August 8, 1929 in Mitchell county, the daughter of Conrad B. and L. Veta Pope Myhre. She was baptized into the Christian faith March 9, 1930 at Mona Lutheran Church by the Rev. Langehough. She confirmed her baptismal vows May 19, 1942 at Our Savior's Church in Lyle, having been instructed by Pastor Langehough.
She was a graduate of Lyle High School.
June 29, 1947 she was united in marriage to Paul D. Leidall at Nashua by Pastor C.W. Batten. This union was blessed with four children. LoRetta was employed at the local grocery store and later worked for the St. Ansgar school system for 15 years, retiring in the spring of 1986. She and her husband were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar. LoRetta had been active in the American Legion Auxilliary and a long time member of the Stitch-N-Chat Club.
Survivors include her husband, Paul of St. Ansgar; two sons, Terry and wife Marcia of St. Ansgar; and Dennis (Skeet) Leidall of Tustin, CA; two daughters, Debra Cahill of LaQuinta, CA and Tori Lowe of Toeterville; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two sisters, Mrs. Norman (Alta) Joynes of Albert Lea, Minn., and Mrs. Olaf (Florence) Golberg of Lyle, Minn.; one brother. Eugene Myhre of St. Ansgar; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents. Burial was in the St. Ansgar Cemetery.
INDEX
Barbara S. Borchert
Surnames: Kuhlmann, Borchert, Crapo, Flugge, Johnson
(St. Ansgar Enterprise-Journal, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 8 NOV 1991)
Funeral services for Barbara S. Borchert, 32, of Grafton, who died Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Manly Care Center, were held Wednesday, Nov. 6. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church with the Rev. Gregory Bjornstad officiating.
Barbara Borchert was born July 3, 1959 at Mason City to Elton and Dora (Weihe) Kuhlmann. She grew up in Northwood and graduated from the Northwood-Kensett high school. She was baptized and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church, Northwood.
September 23, 1978 she married Larry Borchert at the First Lutheran Church in Northwood and lived on a farm by Grafton all her married life. She enjoyed being with her friends at the Midway Cafe in Northwood where she was employed.
Survivors include her husband, Larry of Grafton; her parents, Elton and Dora Kuhlmann, Northwood; her grandmother Mrs. Mildred Flugge of Northwood; two sisters, Mrs. Mark (Dolores) Johnson of Ridgefield, WA and Patty Crapo of Salt Lake City, UT; two brothers, Mike and Harry Kuhlmann of Northwood.
She was preceded in death by three grandparents.
Burial was in the Grafton Cemetery.
INDEX
Edna Bernice Benton Olson
Surnames: Elston, Benton, Olson
(St. Ansgar Enterprise-Journal, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 8 NOV 1991 )
Funeral services for Edna Benton Olson were held Monday, Nov. 4 at the First Lutheran Church with Rev. Robert Porisch officiating. She died Wednesday, Oct. 30 at St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center where she had been a resident since November 1987.
Edna Bernice Benton Olson was born July 28, 1987 in Linn County, to Alonzo and Emma (Elston) Benton. She entered into the teaching profession.
Edna married John Olson December 14, 1927. She was confirmed at the age of 32, Sept. 8, 1929. She retired to St. Ansgar in January of 1959.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband John; an infant son; one grandson, Dale; two sisters, Nira and May; two brothers, Guy and John.
She is survived by one son, George of St. Ansgar, three grandchildren and siz great grandchildren.
Burial was at the First Lutheran Cemetery.
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Dorothy Rose Duenow
Surnames:Berg, Duenow, Bensend
(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 21 NOV 1991)
Funeral services for Dorothy Duenow, 70, of Rochester, MN, who died Thursday, November 21, were held Saturday, November 23 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Lyle, Minn., with the Rev. Harold Luecke officiating.
Dorothy Rose Duenow was born February 9, 1921 in Otranto Township, Mitchell County, to Roy and Bessie (Berg) Duenow. She was baptized and confirmed at Mona Lutheran Church. She received her elementary education at the Mona School and graduated from Luther College with a BA degree in education.
She spent 42 years in the teaching profession at Mitchell County schools, Osage, Waterloo, and 32 years in the Mason City school system. When she retired she moved to the Mona area.
At the time of her death, she was a member of the Mason City Area Retired Teachers Association, NEA, ISEA, Beta Sigma Phi, financial secretary of Our Savior's Lutheran church, secretary of Women of the ELCA, president of Mary Circle and president of the Lyle Study Club.
Survivors include one brother, Dene Duenow; one sister, Donna Bensend, both of St. Ansgar; nephews and nieces, Dennis Duenow of Norfolk, Nebraska; Denise Harrison, Northwood; Donald Duenow of Eagan, Minn.; Tracy Bensend of St. Louis Park, Minn., and Christopher Bensend, St. Ansgar; two aunts, Myrtle Rowland of Osage and Hazel Duenow of Mason City.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Dale Duenow.
Burial was at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Mona.
INDEX
Millard Brown McNutt
Surnames: McNutt, Halstad, Raines, Breaw, Gilbert
(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 5 DEC 1991 )
Millard Brown McNutt, 79, of rural St. Ansgar, died Thursday, November 28 at his home.
Funeral services were held 1:30 p.m. Monday at the St. Ansgar United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Lemmermann and the Rev. Robert E. Matthews officiating. Burial will be in the St. Ansgar Cemetery.
Millard Brown McNutt was born Nov. 27, 1912 at Archer, the son of Homer Brown and Alice (Halstad) McNutt. He was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist faith. He attended [the] rural school system in O'Brien County and was graduated from Sheldon High School in Sheldon in 1930. He also attended Iowa State University in Ames where he studied a course in farm operations.
He was united in marriage to Virginia Raine on Feb. 4, 1935, at Sibley. She preceded him in death following a lengthy illness. He was united in marriage to Barbara Breaw on December 10, 1960, at Denver, Colorado. Mr. McNutt farmed in the Sheldon area for 15 years and moved in 1950 to St. Ansgar where he continued to farm for many years. He also owned Gulf Farm Center in Northwood from 1970 until his retirement in 1989. In recent years he raised Paso Fino horses.
He was a member of the St. Ansgar United Methodist Church where he served faithfully on many boards and committees.
He was a 50 year member of the Osage Masonic Lodge No. 102 A.F. & A.M. and also was very active in the 4-H organizations in Mitchell and Worth Counties and also with Farm Bureau in Mitchell County. He also served on the St. Ansgar School Board and was a former Mitchell County Fair Board Member. He helped organize and was the first president of the North Central Iowa Shorthorn Breeders Association.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara of rural St. Ansgar; one daughter, Barbara Jean and husband Royal Dohler, St. Ansgar; two sons, Robert Brown and his wife Sheri McNutt, rural Kensett; two brothers, Paul and his wife, Mary McNutt of Iowa City and Merle and wife, LaNelle McNutt of Dexter, Minnesota; one sister-in-law, Evelyn McNutt, St. Ansgar; three step sisters, Ruth and husband, Craig Raines, Vernon, Connecticut; Mary and husband, Paul McNutt, Iowa City, and Jean and husband, Frank Gilbert, Rogers, Arkansas; seven grandchildren, Dawn Dohler, Coralville; Tracy Dohler, Iowa City; Carmen Dohler, St. Ansgar; Matthew McNutt, Iowa City; Heidi and husband, Jeff Kaisand, Ames, Kimberly and Kevin McNutt, Kensett and many other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife and one brother, Wayne McNutt.
INDEX
Charlene Elizabeth Nelson
Surnames: Nelson, VanEvery, Anderson, Mayer
(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 12 DEC 1991 )
Funeral services for Charlene Elizabeth Nelson, 61, of rural Osage, who died Tuesday, December 3 at the Mitchell County Memorial Hospital, were held on Friday, December 6 at the Champion Funeral Home, Osage, with Rev. John Gilbert officiating.
Charlene Nelson was born August 29, 1930 at Bolan. She was the daughter of Glenn and Lucy (Anderson) Van Every. She graduated in 1946 from McIntire High School.
On June 26, 1948, she married Leonard Mayer. She was a long time resident of Riceville where she operated an upholstery shop in her home for 17 years. She moved to California in 1978 and married Russell Nelson May 26, 1979 in Reno, Nevada. They moved to Osage in 1981 where she owned and operated Charlies Car Care. Sewing, building and designing wood ornaments and gardening were the enjoyments of her life.
Survivors include her husband Russell of Osage; mother, Lucy Van Every of Osage; one daughter, Mrs. LeRoy (Carol) Janssen, Osage; one stepdaughter, Mrs. Steve (Connie) Cianci of Fairfield, Calif.; two sons, Jerry Mayer of Dakota Dunes, SD, and Randy Mayer of Riceville; one sister, Mrs. Norbert (Virginia) Hovey of Ridgeway; and two brothers, Glenn Dale Van Every of Gravois Mills, Missouri, and Lynn Van Every of Denver, Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her father and one sister.
Burial was in the St. Ansgar Cemetery.
INDEX
Adeline Lisette Westenberger
Surnames: Westenberger, Sturley, Toeter
(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 19 DEC 1991)
Funeral services were held December 14 for Adeline Westenberger, 87, who died December 11. She has been a resident at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center for the past five and one half years.
Adeline Lisette Westenberger was born August 11, 1904 in the home of her parents, Dr. Joseph C. and Josephine nee Toeter Westenberger at St. Ansgar.
She was baptized there on September 6, 1904 by her paternal grandfather, the Rev. J. Westenberger with Wilhelmine Toeter, Lisette Westenberger and Amanda Toeter as her sponsors.
She attended the St. Ansgar schools, graduating from St. Ansgar High School. She was instructed by the Rev. Paul Brammer and confirmed her baptismal vows on May 24, 1918 at Immanuel Lutheran Church and remained a lifelong member of the church.
A graduate of Carleton College at Northfield, MN, she devoted her life to assisting her father in his medical practice in St. Ansgar and caring for her parents. She had been a member of the Young Ladies Society of the Immanuel Lutheran Church; a member and past officer of the Esther Circle; a Sunday School and confirmation teacher for the congregation. In the community she had been a member of the St. Ansgar Federated Woman's Club, the Garden Club and the Library Board. She enjoyed travel, journeying to Europe and visiting her relatives on the West Coast.
The Rev. N.E. Betke conducted the services. Burial was in the St. Ansgar Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother.
She is survived by her nieces, Laurie Westenberger Sturley of Quincy, CA, and Theo Westenberger of New York, NY; great nephew Gabriel Sturley of Quincy, great nieces, Erin, Theodora Joanne and Jasassa Joy Sturley of Quincy, and cousins and friends.
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Gaylon Bruce Bowers
Surnames: Bowers, Knutson
(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 19 DEC 1991 )
Gaylon Bruce Bowers, 61, of Fairfield, CA, formerly of St. Ansgar, died suddenly Sunday, December 8 while vacationing in Laughlin, Nevada.
Mr. Bowers was born September 23, 1929, in St. Ansgar to William and Ina Knutson Bowers. He grew up in St. Ansgar and moved to California in 1966. He was retired from the United States Army and Civil Service.
Mr. Bowers enjoyed working on classic cars, camping and RVing, square dancing, playing bingo and always made sure everyone enjoyed themselves.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, William.
He is survived by one daughter, Gloria Bowers of Suisun, CA; two sons, William and Allen D. Bowers, both of Fairfield, CA and five grandchildren, Jennifer Brower, Crystal Chavez, Richard Bowers, and Jeramy Bowers, all of California.
Funeral services were held December 13 at First Lutheran Church here, with Rev. Robert Porisch officiating.
INDEX
Elaine Dieterich
Surnames: Dieterich, Nelson, Thrams, Leonard, Hunt
(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 21 JAN 1992 )
Funeral services were held December 23 for Elaine Dieterich, 84, at First Lutheran Church here with the Rev. Robert Porisch officiating. Burial was in the Osage Cemetery.
Elaine Dieterich was born October 22, 1907 to George D. and Celia A. Nelson of Burr Oak Township in Brownsdale. She was baptized in the Brownsdale Methodist Church where she received her early religious training and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at the age of 13. She publically affirmed her faith at First Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar, where she was confirmed by the Rev. O.A. Langehough April 28, 1929. Elaine remained an active member of the church for over 60 years.
Elaine attended elementary school in Brownville. In 1925 she graduated from Riceville High School where she received Normal Training as an elementary school teacher. Elaine spent the next seven years teaching in several schools throughout Mitchell County.
On October 18, 1933 she married Ervin Dieterich and moved to a farm south of St. Ansgar. Both lived and worked on the same farm for the past 53 years. A great joy of her life was nature. She spent hours dedicated to the beauty and conservation of the land.
Elaine was a charter member of the St. Ansgar Garden Club, worked with the local Girl Scout Program, and served on the Mitchell County Historical Board. Elaine was publically recognized by the Iowa State Horticultural Society in 1987. The certificate of merit award acknowledged her 51 years of outstanding contributions of time, talent, and professionalism in the horticultural field.
Elaine passed away Saturday, December 21. She was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Ervin; daughter Patricia and husband Richard Leonard; 3 grandchildren, Michael, Susan and Jennifer, Minneapolis, MN, and her sister Violet Hunt, Everett, WA.
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HTMLization by Kermit L. Kittleson -- Feb. 1999
DISCLAIMER: Every effort was made to make the transcriptions accurate, but no guarantee is implied as to the accuracy of these obituaries.
©1999 Kermit L. Kittleson -- These obituaries may not be duplicated for profit in any manner without the express permission, in writing, of Kermit Kittleson, Pocatello, Idaho.