The Guy BURCH family became Benton community residents when they moved from Liberty Township of Ringgold County, Iowa in the spring of 1924, to the former "Minor SAM'S place," now occupied by the Robert LESANS. The family then included Guy and Ada, and their daughter, Cleta Lavaun. Cleta was later called Bonnie by the new neighbors (the Harry BARKER family), as she couldn't say her name plainly, only to Cleta.

Guy farmed and had a dairy herd of Holsteins for many years. He was also an auctioneer and auctioned at many bazaars for the two Benton churches and box suppers at the school and many area country schools. He gave up auctioneering when his hearing got bad. His familiar voice was also heard many times as "Santa Claus" came to visit the school and church.

Ada raised big gardens and helped with the milking and other chores, as did all farm women of those days.

In June of 1929, a son, Don Edwin, was born to the family, and in December of 1933, a daughter, Jean Louise, was born.

Cleta and Don attended the Benton School for twelve years. Jean attended there, also, until she became ill while in the sixth grade. She died of leukemia in January of 1946 [interment was made in Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr].

In August of 1938, Cleta was married to Clifford FORCE of Parnell, Missouri. They lived on farms in the area until 1973, when they moved to Mount Ayr. They did live in Missouri one year, 1942, and while they were there, a daughter, Sharon Maxine, was born. Glenys joined the family in February of 1956, and Alan Kurt in March of 1957.

Guy also drove a truck for McCullough Implement of Mount Ayr, and at one time, had his own truck and hauled livestock to sales and to market. Guy, Don, and Clifford all did custom farm work for several years.

In 1944, the BURCHES moved two miles north, to the former UGELOW farm, where Don still resides.

When Guy's health failed and he could no longer farm, he moved to Des Moines where he operated an elevator and was custodian in the Oldd Fellows' Temple and, later, the Des Moines building, until his ful retirement. Ada and Don stayed on the farm. Ada passed away in May of 1978 [with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr].

Guy has spent the last ten years of his life in a nursing home, the first five in Winterset, and the last five years in "Clearview Home" in Mount Ayr. At eighty-eight years, he no longer knows his family. He has lost his memory and his jolly disposition.

of employement have been: Myron Horn-Ford-Ferguson Company; S.C.S. with Jim TYSON; Mount Ayr Community school as bus driver for ten years; and Roe Implement Company as truck driver, where he worked until his retirement. He also served on the hospital board for eighteen years.

Sharon FORCE attended Mount Ayr School. Glenys FORCE attended Mount Ayr School until the reorganization, and then attended Maloy, Benton, and Mount Ayr schools. Later, she attended Graceland College at Lamoni and became a registered nurse in 1978.

Alan FORCE attended school in Mount Ayr for a time. Being a victim of Downs Syndrome, he has attended the Challenge Center for Handicapped Citizens in Mount Ayr for several years.

Sharon married Larry HEMBRY of Lamoni in June of 1960. They had four children: Sherri Lavaun, who was born in June of 1965; Kerri Dawn, who was born in August of 1967; Larry John, who was born in June of 1973; and Barry Don, who was born in November of 1978. Kerri was in the sixth grade at Benton when she became ill with meningitis. She passed away in January of 1980. The family now resides in Fremont, Iowa, except Sherri, who lives and works in Des Moines.

Glenys married John ESSEX of Independence, Missouri in October of 1979, in which place they still make their home. They have one daughter, Sara Jean, born in July of 1984.

Alan still lives at home in Mount Ayr with Clifford and Cleta.

SOURCE: 1887 - Benton, Iowa Centennial - 1987. Pp. 202-03. Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, Mount Ayr IA

Transcriptions and notes by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012

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