Churchill, Anna Virginia Johnson -
Funeral Services for Anna Churchill, age 77 of Gravity who died Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at the Alegent Health
Mercy Hospital in Corning were held Monday, May 2, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford.
Interment was held in the Washington Cemetery in Gravity. Memorials can be directed to the First Baptist Church in
Bedford. Please leave a message of tribute to the Churchill family on our web page, wvw.ritchiefunralhome.com under
Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.
Anna Virginia (Johnson) Churchill was born February 1, 1928, in Clincheo, Virginia the daughter of Archie Cowan
Johnson and Ida Alice (Stewart) Johnson. She grew up in the Clinchco area, graduating from the Happy
Valley High School with the Class of 1948. She then attended East Tennessee Baptist Hospital Nursing
School, graduating with the Class of 1952.
After she graduated from nursing school, she continued to work at the East Tennessee Baptist Hospital. She
came to Iowa with her best friend who was dating Bobby's brother Max. Anna met Bobby Churchill and the
couple was united in marriage on April 7, 1955, in Elizabethan, Tennessee. Together Bobby and Anna farmed
northwest of Gravity on the Churchill family farm.
Anna enjoyed being a farmer's wife and they were blessed with three children, Kathy, Nancy and Dean. In 1970,
Anna returned to her career of nursing and enjoyed working at the Corning Hospital, retiring in 1991. She and
Bobby just celebrated their Golden (50th) Wedding Anniversary April 7, 2005.
Anna enjoyed spending time working on family genealogy, reading romance novels, working on cross-stitch
and teaching her daughters how to crochet. She enjoyed the farm life, working in her garden and being outdoors.
Anna was truly a compassionate woman, putting other people's needs ahead of her own. Her family was always most
important to her, especially her grandchildren.
Left to cherish Anna's memory are her loving husband Bobby Churchill of Gravity; three children, Kathy Holder
and husband Jim (Butch) of Council Bluffs; Nancy Melcher and husband Larry of Glenwood; and Dean Churchill and
wife Kristie of Gravity; six grandchildren, Chanell Wilson and husband Alan of Bedford; Natalie Churchill of Council
Bluffs; Haley Churchill of New Market; Mariah Churchill of Gravity; Michael Churchill of Gravity; and Brian Melcher of
Glenwood; seven step-grandchildren, Ross (Reno) Churchill of Gravity; Tami Melcher of Council Bluffs; Teri Vaughan
and husband Kevin of Sioux City; Michelle Pace and husband Steve of Oakland; Andrew Bemman of Council Bluffs;
Troy Holder and wife Michelle of Council Bluffs; and Shane Holder of Virginia, Minnesota; two great-grandchildren,
Clayton and Aidan Wilson of Bedford; and two step-great-grandchildren Troy Holder Jr., and Austin Holder of
Council Bluffs.
Preceding Anna in death are her parents Archie and Ida; four brothers, Henry Johnson, John Johnson, Clyde Johnson,
and Arch Johnson; three sisters, Launa Adams, Grace Myers and Mary Drewitt; and a grandchild, Rachael Welcome.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday May 4, 2005
Cook, Leah Jean Canney -
Funeral services for Leah Cook, age 64 of Lenox who died Thursday June 2, 2005 at her home were held
Wednesday, June 8, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at the Stringtown Church. Private family interment will be held at a later
date. Memorials can be given in Leah's name. Please leave a message of tribute to the Cook family on our web page,
www.ritchiefunralhome.com under obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of
Lenox.
Leah Jean (Canney) Cook was born August 12, 1940 to Donald and Corda (Carson) Canney, in Osceola, Iowa and
died June 2, 2005; at home in Lenox, Iowa.
Leah attended country school in Clarke County through the 8th grade and graduated high school in Osceola.
She worked a short time for the telephone company. Being a real country girl at heart she did not enjoy this, and
decided to stay at home, and helped her mom and dad on the farm until meeting Roy Cook.
At this meeting a great love developed. They were united in marriage December 31, 1961 at Bethel Chapel
Church in Clarke County. To this union five children were born. Jeffery of Ankeny; Lynne Hites and husband
Andy of Pleasant Hill; Corey of Altoona; James of Corning; Allen of Red Oak; and many other children that
called Leah Mom. She had five adopted children, 4 grandchildren; Brandon and Lindsey Cook, Meagan and
Ashley Hites.
Leah and Roy, for several years, worked with the foster children program. They had somewhere around
30 children that passed through their home that called Leah Mom and still do today. Many told her she
was the only mom that they had ever known. She loved working with and teasing people for good fun. Her love
was not things but people, thinking of others before herself. She lived her life by the golden rule; she
taught this value to her children with love and forgiveness, while touching an even greater number.
Leah always tried to serve the Lord in whatever way that she could. She enjoyed people, her family,
rodeos, flowers, and animals.
In the 1980's she and Roy moved to Des Moines to be in the Active Ministry. While there they served as Co-
Pastors of different churches and volunteered to help others. They spent a year in Southern MO, working
for the Lord and had hoped some day to return there to retire.
In 1993 they moved to Lenox to pastor at Stringtown Community Church and enjoyed this challenge. During
this time they and Peggy Brown made three missionary trips to Southeast Kentucky, which Leah had enjoyed
beyond words, and the people that she met there. She had hoped to go again.
Leah enjoyed traveling, sewing and her church work.
She couldn't understand why people didn't enjoy being in God's House and doing his work.
Leah is at home with the Lord today and you can bet she is putting in a good word for each of you.
Preceding Leah in death are her grandparents and parents.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa June 15, 2005
Ethington, Ivan Claire -
Ivan Claire Ethington, age 83, of Naples, Florida died of a bronchial infection Friday. May 13, 2005 at the Imperial
Health Care Center in Naples. Services were held in Naples on May 22, 2005.
Mr. Ethington, former executive vice-president of the Burlington Northern Railroad, started his career as a senior
roadman for Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and spent thirty-four years in this Industry. He toured Russia in
the 1960's as part of a State Department trip to assess the state of Russian railroads, reporting back to the CIA and
State Department. He worked for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in Chicago from 1957 to 1972. The
Railroad became Burlington Northern Railroad through a merger in 1970. He retired from his post in 1982.
Ivan Claire Ethington was born in Alden, IA. to Harold and Helen (Clue) Ellington January 19, 1922. He lived one
year in Alden and thru the family moved back to Lenox, IA.
He attended grade school in Lenox and graduated from Lenox High School in 1939. He is remembered by his
nickname (Fat) and his athletic abilities in football and basketball. He was on the Lenox Boys Basketball team that
reached the State Tournament in 1939. He attended Iowa State and was an offensive and defensive guard, becoming
an All-American football player. In 1942, the Philadelphia Eagles offered him $50 a week to play for the team, an offer
he turned down.
Claire was married in 1942 to Lois Jean Garner of Corning and to this anion was born one daughter and three
sons. The family moved about 15 times and then settled in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Mr. Ethington served as a combat engineer in the Army from 1942 to 1945. He finished school after World War II
and graduated with c degree in civil engineering. In 1967 he graduated from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Ethington enjoyed playing golf and working on projects in his wood shop. His children report "He was larger
than life and brought great drama and interest to their lives."
Survivors include his wife, Lois Jean; daughter Pamela Calligan of Chicago; sons Jay of Dallas, TX. Claire "Butch"
of Omaha, NE. and Steven of Chicago, ILL.; brother Dean "Red" Ethingto.i (wife Maxine Caldwell) of Cedar Falls;
sister Marilyn (husband Alvin Clair Russie) of Des Moines, IA; and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Dale and Paul.
After retirement he and Jean lived in Naples, Florida, current address 7515 Pelican Bay Blvd., #22D 34108.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday May 25, 2005
Frydenberg, Leona Carruthers-
Leone Frydenberg, 91, passed away April 24, 2005 in Arlington, Texas. Funeral services were held April 29 at
Arlington Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Moore Memorial Gardens.
Leone was born December 7, 1913, in Adams County, Iowa, the youngest daughter of Mae and Will Carruthers,
Jr. She attended country school and Lenox High School, graduating in the Class of 1931. In 1932, Leone took a
one-year correspondence course from Jackson University.
On December 14, 1934, she married Palmer Frydenberg in the Lutheran Church at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
She had a great love for the outdoors, always loved to mow her yard and have the car and pickup clean. She
loved to play golf when she lived at Mt.Vernon and Fairfield, Ill. Leone lived in eight states due to her
husband's work building highways and airports.
She belonged to the Norwegian Society of Texas, Midnattsolen Chapter.
Leone was preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband of 61 years, Palmer in 1996; infant sister, Theo
Carruthers and sister, Frances Carruthers Brown in 1988.
Survivors include nieces and nephews, Don and wife, Carol Frydenberg, Gary and wife, Ruth Ann Christiansen,
Dick and wife, LaFon Frydenberg, Peggy and husband, Ron Kramer, Phyllis and husband, John Smith; friend,
Jolene Brewer.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Thursday June 1, 2005
Higday, Mary Ellen Swank McLead -
Mary Ellen (Swank) Higday was born July 9, 1936 on one of the hottest days of that decade. It was 117 degrees that
day. She was born southwest of Kellerton in Athens Township in the Salem community at her great-grandparents,
Ed and Ida Greenman's home place.
She was the oldest of four children born to Lawrence Swank and Wilma Greenman. The next spring after she was
born, she and her parents moved to a farm northwest of Diagonal. She started school there and then in the spring of
1942 they moved back to the Salem community where her parents bought her grandparents, Clifford and Bessie
Greenman's farm.
She went to the Salem rural school and graduated from the eighth grade there and then went to the Mount Ayr High
School and graduated with the class of 1954. During her youth she had two faithful pets, her white pony, Topsy, and
her collie dog, Shep. She belonged to the Caledonia Clover Girls 4-H Club and held many offices, later being County
Girls 4-H president and also held State Offices in 4-H. She attended the Salem Church and later attended the
Kellerton United Methodist Church.
After graduation she went to work at the Ringgold County Extension office and then moved to Des Moines and
worked at Farm Bureau and later at Standard Distributing. On July 4, 1958 she was married to Donald McLead at
the Methodist Church, Kellerton. To this union was born one son. Robert McLead. They later divorced and she married
Max Higday, August 29, 1962. To this union four children were born, Brent, Marilyn, Mike and Mark. Mary and Max
lived in Carroll and Creston, where she was a purchasing agent for the hospitals.
They moved to Omaha, where Mary worked for Lozier Corp. for 20 years. After retiring she and her good friend, Jay
Bowen, traveled and spent their winters in the South until her failing health. She lived at the Mount Ayr Health Care
Center since July of 2004.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands and her parents. Mary is survived by her friend and companion, Jay
Bowen; her sisters, Linda and Bob Swanson and Cathy and Jim Coulson; brother, Larry Swank with special friend, Deb
Clark: her children, Robert and Carrie McLead, Brent and Faith Higday, Marilyn and Steve Thompson, Mike Higday and
Mark Higday. Her grandchildren, Amanda, Liz, Caitlin and Wyatt McLead and Kevin, Ryan, Lee and Brandon Thompson;
several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and lots of friends.
Mary donated her remains to The Nebraska Anatomical Board to help further science. There was a celebration of life
ceremony at the Mount Ayr Legion Building, Saturday, April 16, 2005 at 10 a.m. and internment will be at Rose Hill
Cemetery, Mount Ayr, IA at a later date.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 27, 2005
Hufnagel, Nancy Calvin -
Nancy Calvin Hufnagel, 51, died peacefully at home after a valiant fight with cancer on May 14, 2005.
She is survived by her husband, Duane of El Paso, Texas, and sister, Barb Dehler of Ramsey, Minn.
Services were held Thursday, May 19, 2005 at Sunset Funeral Home-West, El Paso, Texas.
A memorial service will be held in Lenox at a later date.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Thursday June 1, 2005
Johnston, Kermit H -
Kermit H. Johnston, 84, of Creston died Saturday, June 11, 2005 at the Creston Nursing
and Rehab Center in Creston. Memorial services were held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 14,
2005 at the Powers Funeral Home in Creston. Pastor Mark Woldruff officiated. Burial
was held in the Graceland Cemetery. Flag presentation was held by the Theodore J.
Martens Post #1797, VFW, Creston. Memorials may be made to the family.
Kermit H. Johnston, son of Vesta Mae "Dollie" (Straight) and James M. "Mannie" Johnston,
was born June 13, 1920 near Corning. He was educated in Lenox Schools. He was in the United
States Army during World War II, before being medically discharged.
In 1952, he married Rosalyn M. Olsen in Lenox. They first settled in Mead, Nebraska where
Kermit operated equipment at an ordinance plant. Kermit and Rosalyn later divorced. In
1963, he worked in production at the Imperial Chemical Company in Shenandoah. He painted
for 50 years and did some farming. He worked at Totes Mfg. in Lenox. Moving to Creston,
he sold cars for Hi-Crest Auto. Several times he painted the big round historical barn,
that was south of Lenox, before being moved to Bedford.
Survivors include his son, David (wife Jill) Johnston of Clearfield; five grandchildren;
five great grandchildren; a sister, Grace Weese of Orient; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Johnston
of Orient and many nieces and nephews. Kermit was preceded in death by his parents,
a sister Alma Smith and three brothers, Bernard and Emerson "Sonny" Johnston and
Kenneth in infancy.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday June 15, 2005
Kilgore, Edwin Arthur -
Funeral services for Edwin Kilgore were held May 18 at the United Church of Diagonal with Rev. John Beran
and Rev. Eydie Stephens officiating. Providing music were Judy Newton and John Hoyt. Casket bearers were
Jared Hoyt, Jordan Hoyt, John Jessie Hoyt, Kent Kilgore, Gary Parker, Randy Parker, Kevin Kilgore, Ron
Abbott, Johny Parrott, Ryan Parrott, Brittany Parrott.
Edwin Arthur Kilgore was born at home, 4 miles north of Diagonal, in Ringgold County on July 7, 1926.
He was the 4th of 6 children born to Zenas & Eunice Kilgore, with siblings being George, Lawrence, Edna, and
Ruth. Art spent many hours doing assigned jobs at home such as driving tractors, harrowing & rolling ground
for crops, and other chores. He attended a 1 room country school which he waked to and graduated eighth
grade from Mortimer.
In 1943, his leg was amputated due to a gun accident. He was hospitalized for 9 weeks. Upon healing, he was
fitted with an artificial leg.
In 1977, his mother died of cancer and he lived with his father. Zenas had a lumber business which Art was a
receptionist.
In 1987, after Zenas was diagnosed with cancer and a resident of a nursing home, Larry & Edna brought Zenas
home to care for with Art's help. On Nov. 25, 1989, Zenas died and this left Art home alone. He became a
resident of the Lenox Care Center in 1993. He loved the care center, the people and activities.
Art passed away suddenly on May 13, 2005 at Bergen Mercy Medical Center in Omaha, NE.
In addition to his parents and an in infant brother at birth, Art was preceded in death by sister, Ruth Lee,
in 1987; brother George in 2004; and a niece Teena Parrott on Dec. 4, 2000.
Survivors include his brother Lawrence Kilgore & his wife Evelyn and sister Edna Parker, all of Diagonal;
sister-in-law Clara Kilgore of Clearfield;. nieces, nephews; and a host of friends.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday May 25, 2005
McMillan, Jean Elizabeth Rosebraugh -
Jean Elizabeth (Rosebraugh) McMillan, age 87, died May 4, 2005, at Hillcrest Homes in LaVerne, CA.
She was born in Conway, and was raised on a farm during the Depression with no indoor plumbing,
electricity, nor running water. In addition to farm chores, she ran a trap line along with her dog, Polly.
While in high school she played on a championship basketball team. When she was a junior her
team went to the state finals in Des Moines, IA. When she graduated from high school, she boarded
a train by herself to California, and never lost her thirst for adventure.
Jean is survived by her two daughters, Jane Ann McMillan Ginter and her husband, Jay, of Juneau, Alaska;
Janice Kay McMillan Kuiken of Garden Grove, CA.; and four grandchildren, Jason and Sarah Ginter of
Juneau, and Matthew and Kelly Kuiken of Garden Grove. She is also survived by her brothers, John
Rosebraugh and his wife, Mary Ann, of Hemet, and Robert Rosebraugh and his wife, Martha, of Wheaton,
ILL. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter John McMillan, and parents Clifford Roy
Rosebraugh and Ruth Jane Cooper Rosebraugh.
Jean attended Business College in Pomona. Jean worked as a legal secretary for the Army, and enjoyed
travel as a stenographer, often bunking in nurse's quarters, as housing could be difficult, her being
a woman, AND a civilian!
She settled in Pomona, where she enjoyed USO Dances, and the fellowship at Trinity United Methodist
Church Twenty-Up Single's Group. There she met the love of her life, Walter, whom she married on
June 9, 1951. They were married 51 years until Walter died in 2002.
With Walter, Jean owned and managed rental properties. Jean also was a co-founder of the Apartment
Owner's Association. Her first priority was being a wife and mother, yet she enjoyed keeping involved
in the business world, through managing their business, and working part-time as an office manager.
Jean and Walter together, and with their daughters, traveled extensively throughout the United
States, Mexico, and Canada; and in retirement, throughout Europe and Alaska. They started off
camping in a tent, then graduated to a trailer, camper, an Airstream trailer, and a motor home.
Their motto was "No one has more fun than the McMillans!"
Jean was devoted to her family, and reveled in the successes of her daughters and grandchildren.
She was a skilled seamstress, and enjoyed gardening, especially growing roses. She was an avid
Laker's fan.
Memorial services were held at Maury Smeltzer Lounge, Hillcrest Homes, 2705 Mountain View
Dr., LaVerne, CA. on Monday, May 9, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. Burial was at the Oak Park Cemetery in
Claremont. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The David and Margaret Home, 1350 3rd
St. LaVerne, CA 91750-5201, 909-596-5921, or the charity of your choice. The family can be
contacted at 5481 Santa Rita Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92845-1041, 714-898- 8852, 714-287-6459
or jmkkuiken@aol.com.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday May 25, 2005
Richie, Helen Louise Smart -
Funeral services for Helen Richie, age 80, of Prescott, who died Sunday, May 22, 2004 at the Alegent
Health Mercy Hospital in Corning were held Wednesday, May 25, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ritchie
Funeral Home in Lenox. Interment was held at the Summit Cemetery in rural Prescott. Memorials can be
given in Helen's name. Please leave a message of tribute to the Richie family on our web page,
www.ritchiefunralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral
Home of Lenox.
Helen Louise (Smart) Richie was born May 7, 1925, in Corning, Iowa the daughter of Dryden Smart and Goldie
Dunkerson Smart. She grew up in the Corning area attending school and graduating from the Corning
High School with Class of 1943. She was united in marriage to Paul Richie on January 1, 1945, in Creston. To
this loving union two children were born, Dennis and Susan.
Helen and Paul farmed their entire married life in the Corning and Prescott area. She truly enjoyed being a
farmer's wife and living the lifestyle it provided. Helen enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles, collecting stuffed
animals and Elvis memorabilia. She also loved working in her flower garden. She was an active member of
the United Church in Prescott and was a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star where she had
served as Past Grand Warder for the State of Iowa.
Left to cherish Helen's memory are her son Dennis Richie and wife Pam of Creston; daughter Susan
Brandt and husband Doug of Prescott; five grandchildren, Ronda Weese and husband Steve; Paula Barnett
and husband Ted; Sandra Hoyt; Missy Walter and husband Dray; and Zach Brandt; eight
great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Esther Smart of Corning along with many nieces, nephews, relatives and
friends.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa June 1, 2005
Spring, Grace L Brownlee -
Funeral services for Grace L. Spring, Corning, Iowa, formerly of Kent, were held Friday, June 3, 2005 at
Cromwell Congregational United Church of Christ with Rev Delores Doench officiating. Inurnment will be
in Oak Hill Cemetery, Corning, at a later date. She died May 31, 2005 at the age of 88.
Grace L. Spring as born September 3, 1915 in rural Adair County, Iowa to Clyde Brownlee and Alma Lutt.
She married Albert A. Spring on January 6, 1945 in Everett, Wash.
She was a member of the Cromwell Congregational United Church of Christ, Cromwell Women's Fellowship,
Creston Woman's Club, and Wednesday Afternoon Club.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband on February 8, 1994; several brothers, sisters, and
other relatives.
She is survived by her son, Steven Spring of Corning; daughters, Linda (Tim) Harem, LeGrand, Iowa;
Phyllis (John) Sunins, Des Moines; grandchildren, Trenton and Alissa Harem; numerous nephews, nieces,
and other relatives.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday June 8, 2005
Thompson, Clevuen (Cleve) Tanner -
Clevune "Clete" (Tanner) Thompson, age 71, St. Joseph, MO. died Saturday, April 16, 2005 at a local Health Care
Center. "Clete" was born November 30, 1933 at Creston to the late Harley Tanner and Vera (Wynn) Tanner Warnock.
"Clete" was an Elder and member of Woodson Chapel Christian Church, the Mary Martha Circle, C.W.F. and was
a teens Sunday School teacher.
Her survivors include her husband, Dennis Thompson of the home; sons, Steve Thompson and wife Joan, Kansas City,
MO.; Terry Thompson and Robert Moore, Dallas, TX.; granddaughter, Monica Kibbee and husband Lee, Olathe, KS.
and stepfather, Harold Warnock, Corning, IA.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, 2005, at the Woodson Chapel Christian Church with Rev.
Bob Hodkins and Ed Shelton officiating.
There will be a graveside service and burial at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Mount Zion Cemetery, Prescott, IA with
Dick Woods officiating.
The visitation was at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Gladden-Stamey Funeral Home where the family received friends from
6-8 p.m.
The family suggests memorials to the Church or to "Angel Flights," in care of the funeral home.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 20, 2005
Thompson, Ruth Irene Hickman -
Funeral Services for Ruth Thompson, age 89 of Bedford who died Wednesday, May 25, 2005 in Clarinda were held
Saturday, May 28, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford. Interment was held in the Fairview
Cemetery in Bedford. Memorials can be directed to the Bedford Meal Site or the United Christian Presbyterian
Church. Please leave a message of tribute to the Thompson family on our web page, www.ritchiefunralhome.com
under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.
Ruth Irene (Hickman) Thompson was born September 12, 1915, on her grandfather's farm in Comanche, Oklahoma.
She was the middle daughter of Quincy and Marie (Dorr) Hickman. When Ruth was a young child she moved with
her parents to a homestead in Colorado on a dry land farm of 320 acres. They were living there when the dust bowl
hit and the farm was not prosperous so they moved to Marie's mother's farm south of Bedford. There Ruth
attended Ross Center School and she graduated from the Bedford High School with the Class of 1934, obtaining her
teaching certificate. She then taught country school for five years for a top dollar wage of $65.00 per month.
While still in grade school, she met the man she would one day marry.
On March 21, 1940 she was united in marriage to Robert Thompson at the Christian Church Parsonage in Bedford
by C. Max Buck with their parents at witnesses.
Robert and Ruth then farmed in Ross Township. Together they raised turkeys, as many as 3,000 per year. In
1946, they moved to Colorado where they continued to raise turkeys. In 1949, they returned to Iowa and purchased
a farm in Grant Township where they resided for the next forty years. In 1990, they retired from farming and
moved to Bedford while spending their winters in the Texas Valley.
Ruth so enjoyed raising her three daughters and being involved in all of their activities. She continued to be involved
with her seven grandchildren. She was a wonderful cook and frequently gave in to the family's demands for her
'world famous' chicken and noodles. Robert and Ruth also enjoyed square dancing and traveling. They were able to
travel to many wonderful places including Russia, China, Japan, Germany, Spain and Europe. They also enjoyed an
RV trip with Robert's niece to Alaska and several trips to see their children and grandchildren.
In recent years, Ruth's health issues made it difficult for her to enjoy many of the activities she had previously,
but she continued to face each day with strength and courage.
Left to cherish Ruth's memory are her loving husband of 65-years Robert Thompson of Bedford; her three
daughters, Barbara Pollard and husband Dan of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Kathy Pinner and husband Lee of McAllen, Texas;
and Glenda Cieminski and husband John of Schaumburg, Illinois; seven grandchildren, Kathryn Allen, Robert Pollard
and wife Sara and Stephanie Pollard all of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Kendra Hughes and husband Shawn of Clarinda; Kim
Wellauer of San Juan, Texas; Jennifer Cieminski and Beth Cieminski of Chicago, Illinois; three great-grandchildren;
a sister Vadna Hickman of Larkspur, Colorado; a sister-in-law, Hazel Thompson of Maryville, Missouri; along with
many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Preceding Ruth in death were her parents Quincy and Marie; an infant brother John Quincy; a daughter Stana at
birth; a sister Anna Stephens; a sister-in-law Alice Cobb; brothers-in-law Allen Thompson, Karl Cobb and
Harold Stephens.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday June 1, 2005
Valentine, Clifford -
Graveside Memorial Services for Cliff Valentine, age 55 of Bedford / Gravity who died Wednesday, June 8, 2005
were held Saturday, June 11, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the Washington Cemetery in Gravity. Memorials can be given
in his name. Please leave a message of tribute to the Valentine family on our web page, www.ritchiefunralhome.com
under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.
Clifford Valentine was born March 23, 1950, to Delbert Wayne Valentine and Lois Irene (Huntington) Valentine.
He grew up attending country schools and graduated from the Bedford High School with the Class of 1968. After
graduation Cliff began farming on the family farm where he continued to live until his death. He raised sweet corn
and usually gave it all away. He also loved to fish. Over the years Cliff and his father shared a love for motorcycles.
Cliff was a tenderhearted man who enjoyed doing things to help others.
Left to cherish Cliff's memory are his sister Renee Owens and husband Chuck of Bellevue, Nebraska; a nephew Mark
Owens of Grapevine, Texas; five aunts, Jean McAlpin of Clarinda; Selma Lucas, Velma Levi and Louise Mitchell of
Lenox; and Frances Livingston of Fort Smith, Arkansas; along with many friends.
Preceding Cliff in death were his father Wayne in 1982; his mother Louise in 2004; and a sister, Jean Louise, at infancy.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday June 15, 2005
Wahl, Dwayne Richard -
Funeral services for Duane Richard Wahl were held May 10 at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in
Mt. Ayr with Rev. Edward Shields officiating. Providing music were Butch and Ina Chapin. Casket
bearers were Junior Bolinger, Lowell Bolinger, Robert (Doc) Bolinger, Floyd Bolinger, Ronald Bolinger, Melvin Bolinger.
Honorary Pallbearers, were Fred Siverly, Jerry Fletchall, Phil Larson, and Bill Bentley.
Dwayne Richard Wahl was born July 9, 1929 at Diagonal, to Francis & Mayme (Spicer) Wahl. He graduated
from Clearfield High School in 1948. Dwayne served his country in the US Navy from 1948 to 1952. On March 4,
1954, he was united in marriage to Viola May Bolinger in Clearfield. A son, Daniel Wayne, was adopted in 1962.
Dwayne worked for Boeing Airplane Co. for 30 years as an electrician. They lived in Wichita, Kansas for 11 years
and then Bethel, Washington for the next 19 years. Dwayne & Vi retired back to Clearfield 19 years ago. Dwayne
enjoyed his time in Clearfield. He liked to go to the Cafe for coffee and cards and the meal site. He liked crafts,
gardening, fishing, going to the music jams and was known to go to the boat once in a while. Dwayne loved to play
games on the computer. He and Vi took annual trips to the west coast, taking their last trip in 2003.
Dwayne entered Clearview Home in Mt. Ayr on April 18 and he passed away there on May 6. He was preceded in
death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife Viola of Clearfield; son Daniel Wayne Wahl of Everett, Washington; brothers &
sisters-in-law; other relatives and friends.
[Burial was in Marshalltown Cemetery near Benton]
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday May 25, 2005 |