Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com

[Tan, Edward]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    October 22, 1973

Former area minister died

The Rev Edward Tan, 61, minister of the Northboro-Blanchard United Methodist Church until his retirement 18 months ago, died at a Council Bluffs hospital Monday. He had been ill only a short time. Services were held Wednesday in Council Bluffs.

Rev Tan was a native of Indonesia. His wife and son, Robert, survive him.

[VanFosson, Howard Leroy]

 Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    October 22, 1973

Howard VanFosson active in farm work

Howard L [eroy] VanFosson, 68, of rural College Springs died early Sunday morning at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha where he had been a patient for a month. Mr. VanFosson had heart surgery earlier this year and had been in poor health since.

Funeral services for Mr. VanFosson will be at 2 pm Tuesday at the United Presbyterian Church at College Springs with burial in the Maple Hill Cemetery. The family will meet friends at Walker Funeral Home this Monday from 7:30 until 9 pm.

Mrs. Bessie Whigham will be organist and Joe McKinley and Ruth Anderson singers. Ushers will be Bill Whipp and John Kenagy. Flowers will be in charge of Mary Whipp and Alma Mitchell. Casket bearers will be Larry Ecker, Gary Ecker, Charles Pruitt, John VanFosson, Paul Blair and William Caskey. Hope Tompkins, and Myrene Whipp will be at the register.

Mr. VanFosson was born May 24, 1905, near College Springs on the same farm that was recently his home. He was the son of John Henry and Rosa Blake VanFosson. On Dec 8, 1926, he was married to [Jane] Isabell Caskey who survives.

Mr. VanFosson was a well-known farmer of this area, active in farm organizations, and was a member of the College Springs United Presbyterian Church.

Besides his wife of the home he is survived by three children: Mrs. Frank (Mary Jean) Murch and Mrs. Joseph (Marjorie Irene) Virgillito, both of Omaha, and Kenneth VanFosson of rural Braddyville. There are nine grandchildren. Brothers are Joseph of Shenandoah, Carl and Paul of Braddyville and Leo of Glenwood. His mother, Mrs. Rosa VanFosson, is of College Springs. He was preceded in death by a brother, Ray VanFosson.

Memorials may be made to the heart fund.       

[Irvin, Essie George]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    October 22, 1973

Services held for Mrs. Irvin

Mrs. Joe (Essie B) Irvin, 82, of Clarinda died Thursday afternoon [October 18, 1973] at Municipal Hospital where she had been for three weeks.

She was born Oct 10, 1891, at Blanchard, the daughter of John and Anna Perrigo George. She died on the 63rd wedding anniversary of her marriage, she and her husband living at 518 E Washington for the past 23 years. Mrs. Irvin is survived by her husband of the home and one son, Cecil, of Whittier, Cal. A brother is Weldon George of Clarinda and a sister is Verne Davis of Blanchard. Mrs. James (JoEllen) Snodderly of Corpus Christi, Tex, is a granddaughter. There are four great - grandchildren.

Services for Mrs. Irvin were held this Monday at Walker Funeral Home with Rev Lester Greenwood in charge. Miss Aletha Hutchings was organist. Casket bearers were Carl Davis, James Martin, O K Brewer. Harold Brooks, Dale Bellairs and Ed Nordland. Burial was in the Clarinda Cemetery,     

 

[McMillen, Harvey]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    October 22, 1973

Harvey McMillen died during visit

Brothers Harvey and Clarence McMillen had come to Clarinda to visit their boyhood friends and locations, but Harvey did not get to complete the plans.

Harvey, 89, was taken suddenly ill Sunday [October 21, 1973] while having his evening meal at the Truck Haven Cafe, just across from Baker Court where he and Clarence, 83, had been staying. He was dead on arrival at the Municipal Hospital three blocks away.

The body has been taken to Lavelle Funeral Home from where it will be taken Tuesday to Meadville, Mo. Those who remember the James McMillen family of near Braddyville may wish to call at the local home Monday evening. Services are to be at Meadville, where Wright Funeral Home is making arrangements for burial Thursday.

The McMillen brothers had visited with Mrs. Lydia Hamm in Clarinda and with Mrs. Lulu Overholt in Shambaugh, Butler schoolmates prior to 1903 when the family moved. They were to go to Shearer Cemetery this Monday to visit their grandparents' graves. The family had moved to Meadville, Mo, area when Harvey was 19 years of age. His wife preceded him in death and he went to Phoenix, Ariz, five years ago to be near his son.

Clarence [Walter] McMillen lives at Marysville, Wash, where the brother had been visiting for about a month before making the trip to Iowa.

 

[Ayres, Leah LaVohn Cook]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    April 9, 1973

Mrs. Ayres was CHS graduate

Fire at her Red Oak home Friday [April 6, 1973] was fatal to Mrs. Leroy (Leah) Ayres, 50, sister of Mrs. Kenneth   (Georgia) Smalley of Clarinda.

Firemen answered a call to the home Friday at about 9:15 pm and found the body of Mrs. Ayres on the floor of her living room. She was alone and the fire had gained headway to burn the living    room    area    and    do extensive smoke damage to the entire house.

Death was due to smoke inhalation, the medical examiner of Montgomery County decided. The fire had been discovered by a neighbor, post-fire investigation resulting in a decision that it was caused by a cigarette igniting a chair.

Services were held in Red Oak, the funeral Monday at Nelson -Boylan Chapel with burial in Evergreen Cemetery.

Leah LaVohn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Cook, was born Oct 14, 1922, at Shenandoah. She was graduated from Clarinda High School in 1940 and was married in 1944 to LeRoy Ayres. They lived in the Shenandoah and Clarinda communities before moving to Red Oak in 1955. She aided her husband in operation of A & W Drive-in, which he owns.

Surviving in addition to her husband are a daughter, Mrs. Richard Woods of Red Oak; sons, Larry, 20, and Lynn, 16, both at home; two grandsons.

Her mother is Mrs. Laura Cook of West Heights Manor in Clarinda; four sisters, Mrs. Burl Davison of Wenatchee, Wash, Mrs. Erma Steuert of Denver; Mrs. Kenneth Smalley of Clarinda; Mrs. Duane Modrow of Shenandoah.

Mrs. Ayres was a member of First Christian Church.

The family has suggested memorials to Red Oak Fire Department.

 

[Bennett, Wilbur M.]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    April 9, 1973

Wilbur Bennett died after surgery

Wilbur M Bennett, 63, died Monday afternoon at University Hospital in Omaha where he had been for a week. He had had open-heart surgery. Mr. Bennett had lived in Bedford since last April, moving there from Stark City, Mo.

He was born Aug 26, 1909, at Leon, the son of Earl C [Clarence] and Daisy Stanford Bennett. He had lived in the Page and Taylor county areas before going to Missouri. Mr. Bennett was a retired farmer.

He is survived by his wife Berniece of the home and six children: Mrs. Robert (Betty) Williamson of Littleton, Colo; Willis Bennett of Monett, Mo; Mrs. John (Dorothy) Miller of Shenandoah; Mrs. Herb (Elaine) Bourks of Littleton, Colo; Charles Bennett of Colorado Springs, Colo, Robert Bennett of Littleton, Colo, and two step-sons, Loren Peyton, Sacramento, Calif, and Marvin Peyton of Denver, Colo. There are 24 grandchildren and nine great - grandchildren.

One brother is Ellary Bennett of St Joseph, Mo, and two sisters Louise Johnson of El Paso, Tex, and Audrey Hayes of New Market. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bennett, live at New Market.

Funeral services for Mr. Bennett were held this Thursday afternoon at Walker Funeral Home with Pastor Carl Lueker officiating. Rosevelyn Bashor was soloist and Grace Perry organist. Casket bearers were Raymond Snead, Elvin Wells, Robert Bonar, Paul Depew, Franklin Chase and Marvin Henshaw. Burial was in Memory Cemetery at New Market.

 

[Cowan, Alice Darby]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    March 1, 1973

Services held for Mrs. Cowan

NORTHBORO - Funeral services for Mrs. Fred (Alice) Cowan, 93, are to be held at 2 pm Friday at Hackett Funeral Home in Shenandoah. She died Tuesday at the Shenandoah hospital where she has been under care since a fall on Feb 10. She was formerly Alice Darby.              

 

[Webb, Leila Vesta Muckey]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    April 9, 1973

Mrs. Leila Webb died at hospital

Mrs. Leila V [esta] Webb, 79, of rural New Market, died Friday morning [April 6th] at Municipal Hospital where she had been admitted Thursday.

She was born June 27, 1893 near Clarinda, the daughter of Curry [Jeremiah] and Anna [Bridget] Shum Muckey. Her husband, [Stephen] Frank Webb, died May 20,1969. The family home is five miles northeast of New Market.

Mrs. Webb is survived by her granddaughter, Mrs. Leo (Normalee) Miller of New Market and three great - grandchildren and one sister, Mrs.   E [stley] W[illie]  (Ione) [Rae] Werner, of Cheyenne, Wyo.

Funeral services were held this Monday morning at Walker Funeral Home with Rev Ed Osburn officiating. Bonnie Brown was soloist and Pat Larson organist. Casket bearers were Paul Shaffer, Wesley Glassgow, Seldon Hicks, Donald Lister, Merrill Webb and Drexel Gold.

Burial   was   in   the   Guss cemetery.                 

[Bossingham, Margaret Dunn]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    June 18, 1973

Mrs. Bossingham, 94, died at West Heights

Mrs. Margaret Bossingham, 94, died Sunday [June 17th] at West Heights Manor where she had resided since 1969. She was born July 12, 1878, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Sunn [Dunn].

 Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Tuesday [June 19th] at Walker Funeral Home with Rev D C Davis in charge. Mrs. Ronald Perry will be organist. Casket bearers will be Al Pfander, Dr C E Nichols, Orville Thompson, Marvin Woldruff, W B Cundiff and Dr R J Haxby. Burial will be in the Clarinda Cemetery.

Mrs. Bossingham is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Dr and Mrs. Earl  [Nathan] Bossingham of Clarinda. There are two grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a son Don, who died in 1964.

She was the widow of Dr Ottmer N [athaniel] Bossingham, who died in [May 28] 1951. She had been a Clarinda resident for about 30 years.

 

[Williams, Jaymes Leslie]  [Carroll, Beverly Ann Field] [Marsh, Jeanette Loraine Luncsford]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    April 9, 1973

Services held for victims of accident

Funeral services for the three who died as result of Wednesday nights crash [April 4, 1973] near Shambaugh were held Saturday.

Double services for Mrs. Robert (Beverly Ann) Carroll and daughter, Mrs. Jeanette Marsh, were at the Walker Funeral Home in Clarinda in the morning and service for Jaymes Leslie Williams at Clarinda Christian Church in the afternoon. Graveside services for the women was at Laurel Hills Cemetery in Des Moines and for Williams at Shearer Cemetery southeast of Shambaugh.

Loren Daly of the New Market Church of Christ officiated for the Carroll - Marsh services. Mrs. Bill (Norma) Kramer was organist. Bearers were Howard Field, James Field, Duane Field, Van Field, Don Harshaw, and Leroy Luncsford.

At the funeral service for Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Williams, Lynn Bridie was soloist and Mrs. Kramer organist. The South Page high school choir gave a special number.

Honorary bearers were Arnold Davison, Lyle Davison, Tarol Stone, James Moses, Bob Scroggs, and Ed Desch. Casket bearers were: Gary Tritsch, Danny Ellison, Bob Riddle, Bob Gilespie, Keith Sunderman and Mark Meskimen. Charles Reynolds and Homer Reeves were ushers. Mrs. Robert Scroggs and Mrs. Janess Warren were in charge of registers.

Walker Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

 

[Davison, Marguerite Douglas]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    May 14, 1973

Service conducted for Mrs. Davison

Funeral service for Mrs. Archie (Marguerite) Davison, 60, of Bedford, sister of Mrs. Pearl Ailshie and Mrs. Florence Cahill of Clarinda, was held May 11 at Bedford.

The death occurred three days earlier at the Clarinda Municipal Hospital. Burial was in Fairview cemetery at Bedford.

She was formerly Marguerite Douglas, born Dec 24, 1912, in Taylor County to Clarence and Minnie Douglas. She was married to Archie Davison on Aug 11,1932, who survives her.

The couple had 10 children, four daughters and five sons surviving her. Included are: Patsy McCown of Covina, Calif; Donnabelle Park of Irving, Texas; Wanda Woldruff of Minden, Neb; Linda Beason of Conway; Ronald, Raymond and Roger of Bedford and Russell and Richard of Conway.              

 

[Hayes, Ronnie]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    August 2, 1973

Hayes' infant son died at hospital

Graveside services were held Wednesday for Ronnie Hayes, infant son of Danny and Judy Hayes of Clarinda. The baby was born at the Municipal Hospital Tuesday morning and lived but a few minutes.

The Rev Charles Bissinger of New Market United Methodist Church officiated with burial at Old Memory Cemetery at New Market. The body was at the Walker Funeral Home prior to service. Grandparents include Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hayes and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Sharpe of Clarinda. Great grandparents are Mrs. Nora Savage, Mrs. Floy Sharpe, Mr. and Mrs. Max Crabs of Clarinda and Mr. and Mrs. Hilton Mick of Hopkins.        

[Note:  The baby was born July 30, 1973 and burial was Tuesday, July 31st, according to correction notice in separate entry.]

[Hayes, Ronnie]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday     August 6, 1973

Infant services

Ronnie Hayes, infant of Mr and Mrs Danny Hayes, was born July 30 and services at the grave in Memory cemetery were Tuesday, contrary to the report in Thursday's issue.   

 

[Picken, Mary, Mrs.]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Oct 1973

Mrs. Mary Picken was missionary

Mrs. Mary Picken, 88, wife of the late Rev Samuel Picken, died at Washington, Iowa, Wednesday with funeral services to be at the Sherman-Eden Funeral Home at 2 pm Friday.

She and her husband had served in this area and had been missionaries before their retirement. He preceded her in death and she had been living at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington.

Survivors include a son, Lt Col James Picken of Rantoul, Ill; two daughters, Kathryn Picken of Stony Point, N Y, and Mrs. Arthur (Arline) Lincoln of Montpelier, Vt; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

 

[McAlpin, Virgil Beryl]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    October 25, 1973           

Virgil [Beryl] McAlpin, 72, of Clarinda, formerly of the Oak Hill area growing up there and later farming the home place, died suddenly Tues., Oct. 23 at Corning while working at the building site of his son's new home. They moved to Clarinda in 1936. He is survived by his wife, Marie, son. Dr. George McAlpin, of Corning and a daughter, Mrs. Bob (Mariann) Grimm of Scottsdale, Ariz, and their families.       

[McAlpin, Virgil Beryl]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    October 25, 1973           

Virgil McAlpin died at Corning

Virgil B [eryl] McAlpin, 72, of Clarinda died Tuesday afternoon [October 23rd] at Corning where he was working at the building site of his son's new home.

 

The son had recently purchased a church from which a group were salvaging lumber for storage in George's airplane hangar.

Services for Mr. McAlpin will be at 2 pm, Friday at Walker Funeral Home with Rev Cecil Latta officiating. Grace Perry will be organist. Casket bearers will be George Hall, Forrest Wynn, Harold Siedenburg, George Pfander, George Woolson and Lewis Wells. Burial will be in Clarinda cemetery with Masonic

services at the graveside.

Besides his wife of the home he is survived by a son George of Corning, and a daughter, Mrs. Bob (MaryAnn) Grimm of Scottsdale, Ariz. There are six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Charles [Oliver].

The Grimms arrived Wednesday from Scottsdale, and Mrs. Charles McAlpin of Jamestown, S D, and her three children are expected. Charles McAlpin Jr has recently returned from service in Thailand.

Mr. McAlpin was born October 8, 1901, in Taylor County, the son of Mr. and Mrs. George McAlpin [Elfie Kelso]. He had been a resident of Taylor and Page Counties all his life, living in Clarinda since 1936. He was a graduate of Clarinda High School in 1920, active in football and music. He attended Iowa State University for two years.

He was employed by Berry Poultry Farm, Berry Seed Co, and was a partner in the ownership of Berry's Farm and Home store for a number of years.

He was married February 22, 1923, to Marie McClelland of Corning, who survives at the home at 123 West Boundary St.

Mr. McAlpin was a member of the Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge and the Eastern Star,

 

[Kellgren, Wayne]

Clarinda Herald Journal

October 1973

Heart attack fatal to man at jail

Wayne Kellgren, 62, died Monday evening of an apparent heart attack in the Page County jail.

Sheriff Dick Hunt said Kellgren had been brought into the jail around 5 pm for apparent intoxication and was released later in the evening following recovery.

He   was   in   the   jail   complex watching television when he suffered the apparent attack.

Graveside services were held this Thursday afternoon at the Clarinda Cemetery with Pastor Carl Lueker officiating. Mr. Kellgren was born in Chamberlain, S D, and had lived in Shenandoah before coming to Clarinda.

He is survived by a son, Gary Kellgren of Los Angeles, Cal, a daughter Aleda Kellgren of New York, N Y and a brother, Leonard Kellgren of Sioux Falls, S D.

Walker Funeral Home was in charge of services.

 

[Clayton, Golda Anna Gray]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    September 10, 1973

GOLDA ANNA GRAY CLAYTON

Golda Anna Gray Clayton, daughter of George Walton and Rosa Zella Gray, was born in Hopkins, Missouri on May 3, 1915 and passed away at the home of her son on September 3,1973 at the age of 58 years 4 months.

On June 4, 1938 she was united in marriage to Ellis Vernon Clayton in Glenwood, Iowa, and to this union two children were born, Lowell Dean Clayton of Braddyville, Iowa and Mrs. Dixie Jean Baker of Clarinda, Iowa.

She is survived by her 2 children, daughter-in-law, Joyce Clayton, granddaughters, Rhonda Kay and Karen Renae Clayton, Donielle Ann and Danielle Merle Baker and grandson, Chris Danny Baker, brothers James of Shelbina, Mo., Ernest of Siam, Ia, John of Kansas City, Mo and Charles of Clearmont, Mo, sisters Lillie Peterson, of Jetmore, Kan, Mary Manuel and Nellie Shaw of Trenton, Mo, half-brother Dale of Shambaugh, Ia and half-sister Dorothy Arthur of Clarinda, Ia.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and a sister Ida Swain.

She was a member of the First Christian Church of Clarinda.

She will be greatly missed by her loved ones and by all who knew her.

Funeral services were conducted at the Walker Funeral Home Thursday September 6, with Rev John Clark officiating. Jack Bridie and Norma Kramer provided the music. Gilbert Burch sang at graveside services. Casket bearers were Lloyd Cavner, Clark Crawford, Byron Scotton, Orville Preeo, Marvin Woldruff and Thomas L Harris.

Burial was in the Clarinda Cemetery

[Laire, Denise Ann]

Clarinda Herald Journal

May 1973

Sister killed in crash with brother

An 18-year-old Red Oak High School student was killed last week when the car she was driving collided with one driven by her brother.

Denise Ann Laire died about an hour after the mishap on the crest of a country   road   6 1/2 miles northeast   of   Red   Oak.    Her brother Douglas, 19, suffered a broken leg and lacerations.

Authorities   said Miss   Laire, alone in her car, was going to Red Oak    and    her    brother    was returning from town when their autos collided nearly head-on.

Adding to the bizarre nature of the mishap was the fact that their father was the first person to reach the scene of the crash. He was doing field work nearby at the time and apparently didnŐt see or hear the accident, but noticed a heavy cloud of dust, then   saw   his   children's   auto sitting in an unusual position on the road.

[Paxton, Ray Joseph]

Clarinda Herald Journal

October 1973

Local residents attend services

Ray J [oseph] Paxton, who was a Clarinda resident until about a year ago, died Oct 17 at Winterset, with services held there Saturday and burial at Peru, Iowa. Attending the services from the local area were Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Meyers, Mr. and Mrs. Bruno Steeve, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Herzberg, Mrs. Darlene Wagoner and Mrs. Pauline Wagoner, all of Clarinda, Mrs. John Bengtson and daughters of Essex, Mrs. Eilts of Yorktown and Mr. and Mrs. Verlin Wetfall of Anita.