Bailey, Bonnie Hamilton - Bonnie Hamilton Bailey, age 81, of Carlinville, Ill., formerly of Madison, died Friday, August 1, 2008 at Carlinville Rehab Center.
She was born March 23, 1927 in Bedford, Iowa, the daughter of the late John Merl Hamilton and the late Eunice M. Kennedy. She married the late Robert Miller Bailey in Des Moines on February 14, 1945. Bailey graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa.
She was a free lance journalist for numerous newspapers and magazines. Bonnie taught and consulted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Business Management Institute for 17 years. Later, she was the Director of Marketing for Musco Lighting in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Bonnie was an avid gardener and garden designer.
Survivors include four children, Susan Martinson (husband, Gary) of Bellevue, CO, John Bailey (wife Cheryl) of Madison, Martha “Marty” Hammann (husband Steve) of Carlinville, IL, and Andrew Bailey (wife Mary) of San Diego, CA; seven grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and a sister, Neva LaVonne McLaren (husband Lannes) of Grants Pass, OR.

Bailey, Doyle Lee - Doyle Lee Bailey was born March 12, 1956, to Alora and Jack (LeRoy) Bailey of Clearfield, Iowa. He passed away October 30, 2009 from a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Doyle attended Clearfield Community School until 1966, at which time his family moved to Clarinda, Iowa. He graduated with the Class of 1974, Clarinda High School. When Doyle was young, he and his parents took a vacation out West, where he fell in love with the mountains and the Western Life. After Doyle had completed his Welding Tech certificate at Iowa Central Community College, Ft. Dodge, Iowa, he moved to Powell, Wyo., to complete college coursework in Outdoor Recreation.
Moving farther west, Doyle found employment with Youth Conservation Corps of National Park Service, working in Yellowstone, and Grand Teton near Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Lost river Range at Mackay, Idaho, even reaching Oregon City, Ore., to work for house painting contractor and eventually landscape irrigation. But in 1998, he moved to the Bitterroot Valley, south of Missoula, Mont., working as a builder for several log home manufacturers. He purchased a house and acreage at Stevensville, where he lived the rest of his life.
In 2000, he married Dianne Miller and together they enjoyed raising horses. Doyle loved working with wood and always had an ongoing project. Left to cherish his memory are: his wife, Dianne of the home; his brother, Dennis Bailey (Sandy) of Clarinda, Iowa; his sister, Jeannette England (Larry) of Clearfield, Iowa; three nieces, Tanya Roberts, Cody McGargill and Joan Hardee; two nephews, Jeff Longfellow and John Longfellow; and may other relatives and lifelong friends. Even though Doyle loved the West, he always considered Iowa his home. We will miss him, in his passing.
Memorial service was held November 11, 2009, at Clearfield United Methodist Church, Clearfield, Iowa. Private burial of ashes will take place at a later date. A memorial fund has been established.

Becherer, Gene Paul - Funeral services for Gene P. Becherer was held Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008 at Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home in Omaha, NE. Interment was in Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park, Omaha, NE.
Gene Paul Becherer was born to William E. and Alma M. Becherer (Reed) on a farm southwest of Lenox, Taylor County, Iowa, on December 21, 1923 and passed away in Omaha on August 6, 2008 at the age of 84.
Gene attended Grove Township No. 4 rural school until his family moved south of Lenox where he attended Lenox Public School. In the Fall of 1937, he attended school in Conway, Iowa where he graduated with the Class of 1941, serving as the class vice-president. After finishing school, he worked as a farm hand before moving to Chicago where he was employed with the Omaha Company, a meat packing firm.
On December 8, 1942, Gene enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, IL. After basic training, he went to Williamsburg, VA. For armament Handling School. Upon completion of training, he was promoted to Gunner’s Mate Seaman and assigned to the U.S. Navy Armed Guard Branch stationed in Brooklyn, New York City. The Navy Armed Guards served on civilian Merchant Marine tankers.
His Navy travels took him to the North and South Atlantic, Caribbean, Mediterranean, South America, South Pacific into the Philippine Islands. In 1946, he was honorably discharged from the Navy as a Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class.
On March 16, 1946, he married his high school sweetheart, Nadine Besco in Lenox, Iowa. Gene and Nadine’s first home was in Hastings, NE where he was employed at the Naval Ammunition Depot assembling excess ordnance from Navy fleet operations.
In September, 1947 Gene and Nadine welcomed their first child, Larry. In 1949, they moved to Sharpsburg, Iowa where they farmed with his father, William. In February, 1951, their second son, Steven, was born. In February, 1952, their third son, Dwight, arrived. In 1955, Gene and family moved to Lenox where he was employed with the Lenox Fertilizer Corporation. In 1956 Gene became employed in bridge construction business, building bridges all over Iowa and later with the Union pacific Railroad in Nebraska. In 1966, Gene and Nadine moved to Omaha, NE where they built a new house.
In 1978 he began working as a rough-in and finish carpenter in the Omaha area until his retirement in 1985. After retirement, Gene continue to do woodworking and handyman projects at home, church and for family and friends.
Gene and Nadine were members of the First Church in Lenox and south Side Christian Church in Omaha. Gene served as elder, deacon, property elder, president of the church board, and many other positions and provided assistance to many members of the church.
In his later years, Gene cared for Nadine until her passing in 1998. He resided in the home he and Nadine built until his final hospital stay. Gene was preceded in death by Nadine, son Steven, parents and grandparents, one sister-in-law and three brothers-in-law.
He is survived by sons, Larry and wife Marilyn of Omaha; Dwight of Shirley, New York; grandson, Michael of Austin, Texas; step-children, Carol Carper of Lyons, NE; Paul Victor of Gretna, NE; John Victor of Omaha, NE; sisters, Shirley Lucas of Washington, Iowa; Wilma Cohrt of Lenox; and many, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.
Gene was a charter member of “The Greatest Generation”, all those persons who lived through the depression era and World War II.

Blakemore, Wyatt D. "Chip" - Wyatt D. (Chip) Blakemore was born in Bedford, Iowa on September 3, 1921, the son of Wyatt H. and Hope Nelson Blakemore and died on August 24, 2009 in Denver, Colo. He graduated from Bedford High School in 1939. As a teenage he worked in his father’s business, the Conoco station, so was very interested in its restoration.
He attended Iowa State University where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He served on a destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, he worked in Buffalo, NY for two years and then returned to Iowa State to attend graduate school. In 1950, he married Jane Moye in Ames, Iowa. In 1953, the family moved to Denver where he was employed by Gates Rubber Company until his retirement. Over the years, the family visited Bedford often.
He is survived by his wife, Jane, daughters Wendy Blakemore, Lyn Madjour and husband DJ, all of Denver; daughter-in-law, Wendy Blakemore of Boulder, Co.; five grandchildren; sister, Mary Ann Farrington of Boulder and brother, Charles N. Blakemore of Albuquerque, N.M., and his many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Christopher Wyatt (Kit) Blakemore in 2008.
A memorial service were held on September 19 at Wellshire Presbyterian Church in Denver where he had served as an elder. Internment of the ashes were in the Memory Garden at the church.
Memorials may be sent to the Bedford Foundation, Box 75, Bedford, Iowa 50833. Condolences may be sent to Mrs. W.D. Blakemore, 1845 S. Linden Way, Denver, Co. 80224.

Bose, Esther Marie Zabel - Funeral services for Esther Bose, age 98, of Lenox, who died Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston were held Friday, October 9, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Presbyterian Church in Lenox. Visitation were held Friday morning at the church from 9:00 a.m. until service time. Interment was held at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.

Esther Marie Bose was born on January 4, 1911, the second of eleven children in the family of Fred and Minnie (Niemann) Zabel. The family lived on a farm four miles southwest of Johnson, Nebraska. She was baptized on January 29, 1911. When Esther was eight years old, the family moved to Smith county, Kansas where she grew up on a farm near the small town of Athol, and was confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church on January 21, 1925. She attended Pleasant Ridge Elementary School and graduated from Athol High School with the Class of 1929. Esther received her teaching certificate from ort Hays Teachers College in Hays, Kansas, and taught in one-room schools in Kansas for eight terms during the Depression and “Dust-Bowl” years of the Thirties.
On April 23, 1939, she was united in marriage to Elmer Bose. The couple lived in Athol, Kansas, until 1954, when they moved to Lenox, Iowa, and purchased the First National Bank with Esther’s brother, Ralph Zabel. They were blessed to share over sixty-three years of marriage together and enjoyed their time together playing golf and cards with family and friends.
Esther was a member of the Lenox United Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Women’s Association. She belonged to several bridge clubs, loved to cook, enjoyed knitting and crocheting, and valued the time spent with her children and grandchildren playing games and working crossword puzzles. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a lift for her spirit and a joy for her heart!
Left to cherish Esther’s memory are her son Eldon Bose and wife Nancy of Lenox; her daughter Janice Felton and husband Jeff to Cheyenne, Wyoming; five grandchildren and their families Mike Bose (Dorrie) of Iowa City; Mendy Abell (Scott) of Cromwell; Marla Bose (Friend Marvin) of Creston; Craig Troudt (Tina) of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Sarah Troudt of Cheyenne, Wyoming; eight great-grandchildren Randy, Jesse, Jenna, and Ashlee Bose; Garrett and Ericka Abell; and Brandon and Rachel Troudt. She is also survived by one brother, Ray Zabel (Fran); and three of her sisters, Verna Flora, Arlene Higgins, and Leola Janssen (Dale); her sister-in-law, Johnnie Zabel; and two brothers-in-law, Floyd Bose and Dick Busche; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding Esther in death were her parents Fred and Minnie Zabel; her loving husband Elmer in 2002; two sisters, Wilma Zabel and Lois Busche; four brothers, Elmer, Earl, Ralph and Lawrence Zabel; and her infant grandson, Nickolas Troudt.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox.

Brown, Lowell "Duane" - Funeral services for Lowell “Duane” Brown, age 86 of Clarinda, Iowa, who died Saturday, April 18, 2008 at the Clarinda Regional Health Center, Clarinda, Iowa were held Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home, Clarinda, Iowa with Reverend Dan Wiebesiek officiating. Visitation with the family was held 5-7 p.m., Monday, April 20 at the funeral home. Burial was in the Memory Cemetery, New Market, Iowa.

Lowell Duane Brown “Brownie” was born July 30, 1922 in Hopkins, Missouri, the son of Fred Edward Brown and Stella Fay (Wilson) Brown. He grew upon a farm in southwest Iowa with his sister, Opal and brothers, Ludlo and Marvin. In 1942 he married Leona Johnson. Five children, Arietta, Marilyn, Jim, Jon and Joel were born of this union.

As a young man, Brownie worked as a farmhand. His brothers brag that he could pick 100 bushel of corn in a day. Most people knew Brownie as a truck driver. He drove for Bill Orr Trucking, New Market Oil Company, Watson Brothers, Miller Oil Company, Midwest Viking, Keane Thummel Trucking and many others. Brownie spent one year loading logs on the rail cars in Grand Ronde, Oregon. His later years were spent with Shirley Stone, fiancé and companion of twenty three years.

Brownie’s great love was his grandchildren! He had seven grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren. He also enjoyed visits from Shirley’s family.

Left to cherish Brownie’s memory are his children, Arieta Miers and husband Bill of New Market, Iowa, Marilyn Beemer and husband Garold of Loveland, Colorado, Jim Brown and wife Kathy of Loveland, Colorado, Jon Brown of Murray, Kentucky and Joel Brown of Loveland, Colorado; grandchildren, Debbie and Ryan Gagala of Downers Grove, Illinois, Anita and Phillip Wardenburg of Creston, Iowa, Bill and Connie Miers of Altoona, Iowa, Dan and Ursla Miers of Indianola, Iowa, Jamie and Ryan Hale of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Matthew and Tamara Brown of Longmont, Colorado, Josh Brown of Loveland, Colorado; great grandchildren, Terry, Robert, Cheresse and Laura, Lucas, Dane and Tessa, Abbie, Cody, Timmy and Shyanne, Jessica and David, Mason, Isabelle and Alyson, Mackenzie and the twins; brother, Marvin Brown and wife Georgia of New Market Iowa; nieces nephews and many friends.

Preceding Brownie in death were his parents; sister, Opal Hutcheson; brother, Ludlo Brown; and great granddaughter, Marilyn Rose.


The Brown boys are known as story tellers and jokesters.
Brownie will be missed family and his many friends.
The memories will remain in our hearts forever.
May God grant comfort and strength to those who mourn his passing.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Clarinda, Iowa.

Burns, Verlin Lloyd - Funeral and Masonic services for Verlin Burns, age 81 formerly of Bedford, who died Sunday, November 9, 2008 at the Christian Health Care Center of Republic, Missouri were held Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford. Visitation were held on Saturday from 12:00 Noon until service time. Interment with military rites accorded by the John F. Hardin American Legion Post No. 164 were held in the Fairview Cemetery in Bedford.

Verlin Lloyd Burns was born on April 9, 1927, near Bedford, Iowa son of Newt and Norma (Clary) Burns. He attended school in the Bedford area, and given an honorary high school diploma from the State of Missouri. On January 19, 1946 he was united in marriage to Barbara Bates in Hiawatha, Kansas. The couple was blessed with the birth of one son, Craig. Verlin was a veteran of the Air Force, serving during the Korean Conflict, a Mason, a Shriner and later, an entrepreneur in Osceola, Iowa, where he owned the Feed Warehouse and the Ambulance Service. While living in Loveland, Colorado he owned a carwash. In 1989, the couple moved to Springfield, Missouri he owned several rental properties.
After retirement he enjoyed going to garage sales and auctions, working on his home and spending time with his family. Our hearts are broken by his passing and we pray he finds peace.
Left to cherish Verlin’s memory is his loving wife of 62 years, Barbara Burns of Springfield, Missouri; his son Craig Burns and wife Donna Cloud and granddaughter Ashley Cloud, all of Republic, Missouri; his sister Shirley Jackes of Monroe, Michigan; along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Verlin is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Max, Rex, Vern, Luther, Don and Frances and his sisters Marvel Brown and Dolores Longfellow.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.

Bycroft, Earnest Edward "Ed" - Edward “Ed” Bycroft was born October 25, 1926 in Bedford, Iowa, the son of Leslie Edward and Thelma (Bubb) Bycroft. Ed passed away March, 13, 2009 at Villisca Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Villisca, Iowa. Ed attended Bedford High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served honorably in World War II. While in the U.S. Navy he met and married Ina Louise Vencil in 1945. From this union, they had eight children. Upon leaving the U.S. Navy, he was employed at the Norfolk Naval Base as a Radio Technician. Ed and Ina relocated from Norfolk to Panama City, Florida and spent ten years there before moving to Montgomery, Alabama. Ed and his family attended First Baptist Church of Montgomery. After Ina passed away in August, 1991, he married Luella Wymore in April, 1996 and they moved to New Market, Iowa. He was an amateur radio technician enjoying radio equipment, computers, and other electronics. Ed was a member of the New Market Church of Christ and American Legion Post 300 in New Market.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Ina; and three children: Harold Mitchell, Richard Eugene, and Jon Allen Bycroft; one sister, Georgia Ann Bycroft; one brother-in-law, Andrew Mosby; and his grandparents, Elmer and Emma Green, who raised Ed while he was growing up in Bedford.


He is survived by his wife, Luella of Clarinda, Iowa; five children Ronald Bycroft and wife Connie of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; Sharon Bycroft of Panama City Beach, Florida; Deborah Rodgers of Milner, Georgia; Mike Bycroft and wife Teri of Wagoner, Oklahoma;; and Christopher Bycroft and wife Teri of Tulsa, Oklahoma; daughter-in-law Patty Ward Bycroft of Montgomery, Alabama nieces, nephews, nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren; two half-sisters Deva Lundquist and husband Charles of Lenox, Iowa and Joan Mosby of Bedford, Iowa; and many loving friends.

Funeral services for Ernest Edward Bycroft of Clarinda, formerly of New Market, will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 16 at Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel of Clarinda. Visitation will be from 9:30 until time of service on Monday. Rev. Russ Clark will be Officiating. Burial will be at Bedford City Cemetery. Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel of Clarinda in charge of arrangements