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

[Piper, Herbert Ariel]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      October 24, 1963      [p. 1]

Herbert Piper Services Today

Funeral services for Herbert (Ariel) Piper, former Conway merchant, will be held today (Thursday) at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home, 706 State Street at 2:00 p. m. Mr. Piper died Oct. 22 at Pugh Rest Home in Clarinda. Burial will be at Conway cemetery.

[Piper, Herbert Ariel]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      October 31, 1963      p. 6

H. A. Piper Rites Held Oct. 24

Funeral services for Herbert Ariel Piper, former Conway merchant, were held Oct. 24 at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford with Rev. J. Milton Kinney, local Methodist minister, officiating. Mr. Piper died Oct. 22 at the age of 75 years, 7 months and 14 days. Burial was in Conway cemetery.

Herbert Ariel Piper, son of Ezekiel and Ida Piper, was born at Clarinda, Iowa on March 8, 1888. He grew to manhood at Clarinda and at the age of 20 moved with his parents to a Taylor County farm between Gravity and Sharpsburg.

He professed his belief in Christ and became a member of the Methodist Church at Sharpsburg.

On March 29, 1911 he was united in marriage to Nellie Bates at her parents’ home in Clearfield. To this union one daughter, Jewel (now Mrs. Marion Erhart), was born.

In 1914 he moved to Conway to go into the mercantile business and later was a grocery man for many years.

He was always active, serving on the town council, school board and church board of which he was a member. Eleven years ago he was stricken with a severe heart attack and has been in failing health since. Early this spring he and his wife purchased a home and moved to Bedford. On July 5 he was stricken again and was taken to Clarinda Municipal hospital He never recovered from this illness.

His father, mother and one sister preceded him in death.

Surviving are his wife, Nellie, one daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter, Patricia, grandson, Gary, his wife and child, all of Omaha; one sister, Mrs. Ray Akers, a sister-in-law, Eulah Kernen, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

He will be greatly missed by all.

[Piper, Nellie May Bates]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      July 13, 1967     p. 3

Nellie May Piper Rites July 8

Funeral services for Mrs. Herbert (Nellie May) Piper were held July 8 at State Street Shum-Novinger Funeral Home with Rev. J. Milton Kinney officiating. Mrs. Piper died July 5, 1967, in an Omaha nursing home. Interment was at Conway Cemetery, Conway, Iowa.

Nellie May Bates, daughter of Dora L. and Wallace A. Bates, was born at Conway, Iowa, on May 14, 1891. Here with her parents, brother, Roy, and sister, Eula, she made her home.

During her school years, her parents purchased a grocery store and moved to Sharpsburg, where she continued her education, graduating from high school.

On March 29, 1911 she was united in marriage to Herbert Ariel Piper. To this union one daughter, Jewel, was born.

At an early age she joined the Methodist Church and was always a faithful worker, teaching Sunday school and helping in many other ways until her health prevented her attending.

After retiring from business she and her husband moved from Conway to Bedford where she lived until she made her home with her daughter after her health failed.

She was preceded in death by her husband of over 50 years, her mother and father, brother and sister.

She is survived by her beloved daughter, Jewel, and son-in-law, Marion Erhart of Omaha; two grandchildren, Gary Clear, his wife Jeanne and two small sons, Scott and Shawn, also of Omaha; Patricia Ann Casey and her husband Robert, and daughter Peggy Ann of Vacaville, Calif.; many other relatives and a host of friends will miss her greatly.

 

[Putnam, Icae Carr]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     November 3, 1966    p. 11

Final Rites For Icae Putnam At Conway

Icae Carr Putnam, well-known former resident of Bedford, passed away on Tuesday, October 18 at the Abbott Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn., following several months of illness.

On the beautiful hillside in the Conway Cemetery, “hallowed ground” as the resting place of many members of her family and of old-time friends, a brief graveside service was held on Friday afternoon, October 21, with the Reverend Edward Tschetter, pastor of the Clearfield-Conway Circuit of the Methodist Church, officiating. Her wishes, written months ago concerning the “last rites,” were carried out here and at Minneapolis, where later a community memorial service will be held in Wesley Methodist Church.

Mrs. Putnam was the youngest of nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. James A.[ustin] Carr, pioneer rural residents of the Conway community, later entering the mercantile business in that village, where Icae entered school, finishing with honors the courses offered there. She began teaching in the rural schools of the county at 17 years [of] age, supplementing her education by summer school sessions and a brief period at Drake University. Her teaching career covered several years in the Hopkins, Missouri schools, climaxed later by a period in the Bedford school system.

At a Summer Institute for teachers held at Bedford in 1899 she and Irving Putnam began a “friendship” which on September 26, 1906 culminated sixty years of “wonderful wedded life” (to use her oft-repeated characterization). Married in 1906, they began home making at Bridgewater, Iowa, where her husband had begun his first year in the Methodist ministry in October 1905. Moving to Evanston, Illinois in 1908 for a three-year theological seminary course, she also matriculated “hoping to graduate with Irving with some kind of diploma,” and he added, “with honors.” Discovering after some months that her never rugged health could not withstand the extra hours required, she overcame “that grievous disappointment” by acting as her husband’s unsalaried “fireside mentor” in which role her keen mind and always discerning judgment became a major element in his future career. Through 42 years in pastorates in Chicago, St. Paul, Sioux Falls, and Minneapolis, she kept “open house” at parsonages, taught a young married folk Sunday School class, played her part in Women’s Societies, wrote articles for various periodicals including the Reader’s Digest, and gave innumerable addresses.

Always a friend of the friendless, disheartened, or underprivileged, often their confidante, she was held in genuine affection by untold numbers in every area in which she moved. Her “reverence for life” included every living creature. She loved as Jesus loves---no barriers of race, color, creed, or condition. Her prayer-life to the end maintained that child-like simplicity and genuineness of trust which God can honor. In death “she yet would speak” Love’s message to a faltering, frustrated generation that needs the quality of Faith and Hope and Love that heals and redeems. She so lived and served that “when her summons came, she could go sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust that her Lord holds the future in His “everlasting arms.”----I. E. P.

Among those attending the services for Mrs. Irving Putnam were nieces and nephews: Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Phillips, Jr. of Wichita, Kansas; Mrs. John Starr of Kansas City; Donald Irish, St. Paul; Mrs. Merle Biggs, Denver; Virgil Putnam, Chillicothe, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Putnam, Prescott; Harry Putnam, Creston.

[Putnam, Irving Ellsworth]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      January 29, 1976    [p. 1]

Irving E. Putnam Final Rites Held January 23

Funeral services for Dr. Irving Ellsworth Putnam of Minneapolis, Minn., a native of Taylor County, were held January 23 in the Bedford United Methodist Chapel officiated by Carl Cummings, Rev. Don Woodward of Rochester, Minn., and Rev. Dwayne Madsen. Dr. Putnam died January 20, 1976 at the Golden Age Nursing Home in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he had lived for several years. Interment was at the Conway Cemetery.

The life of Dr. Irving Ellsworth Putnam began October 13, 1878, on a farm near Bedford, in Taylor County, Iowa, where his parents, Henry H. [arrison] and Cornelia A. [nn Chamberlain] Putnam, had moved from Amboy, Ill., to Iowa in 1873, locating on a farm five and one-half miles northwest of Bedford and here he grew to maturity. The Putnams were members of Gilead Church and as a lad he attended Dunning School.

Irving being the sixth child in a family of 10, early learned the lessons in personal sacrifice, responsibility and joint family cooperation. Irving served as a rural schoolteacher at the “Dougherty” school west of Bedford.

Following graduation from the Bedford High School he had an urge to further his education and did so by graduating from Cornell College and Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, with a Doctor of Divinity degree.

Irving and Icae Carr of Conway, Iowa, were united in matrimony in 1906. Together they went forth to serve their Lord many years, until her death in 1966.

They had served many churches in Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota. While serving a fast growing young church in the Evanston, Illinois, area he provided the leadership in building a new church building—an experience that enabled him to further advancement. The First Methodist Church of Minneapolis, Minn., called Dr. Irving E. Putnam as minister of that city church. Together they served this church until his retirement. Since then he served several churches in the Twin City area as interim minister.

At the time of the building of the educational unit in Bedford he wrote asking what he could do for his old home church. In keeping and sharing the love for the Bedford Methodist Church, Dr. Putnam and his good wife, Icae, together with her sister, Mrs. L. [ee] E. [lda] Phillips [Nora Carr], and her son, Phil, of Bartlesville, Okla., remodeled and furnished the Youth room as a memorial for Eva Lake and her husband, Walter H. [oward] Lake; Mrs. Putnam, Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Lake being sisters.

Left to cherish his memory are nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

[Roberts, Effie Garnet Smith]

Bedford Times Press

Thursday       October 7, 1976

Final Rites Held September 29 for Effie Roberts, 100

Funeral services for Mrs. Ira A. (Effie) Roberts, 100, of Bedford, held September 29 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home here, were conducted by Carl Cummings. Mrs. Roberts died in Bedford Manor Nursing Home in Bedford September 26, 1976. Inurnment was in the Mausoleum in Fairview Cemetery, Bedford.

Effie [Garnet] Smith Roberts, daughter of Joseph Milo Smith and Harriet Ogden Smith, was born in Fulton County, Illinois, on September 10, 1876. When she was four years old she moved with her parents to Adams County, Iowa, and the following year, in 1881, they moved to Taylor County, Iowa, where she has continued to reside.

She grew to maturity in the Conway area where she attended the public school and the Methodist Church. On April 5, 1898, she was united in marriage to Ira A.[lva] Roberts,, at the home of the bride's parents near Conway with the Rev. J. A. Ross officiating.,

Four daughters were born to bless their home and to share their love. They lived on a farm almost all of their married life, moving to Bedford in 1938 and Mr. Roberts passed away December 13,1938. She was also preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Mary Worsham, and one brother, Carl Smith.

Left to cherish the memory of her good life are the four daughters, Earlis Norton of Conway, Iowa, Mildred DeVoe of Bedford, Iowa, Edith [Josephine] Appenzeller and her husband, Fred, of Boone, Iowa, and Eathel [Harriett] Hill and her husband, E.[dward] E. Hill, of Fremont, Nebr.; one sister, Nell Rasmussen; nine grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

She joined the Presbyterian Church when she was 18 years old and transferred her membership to the Methodist Church after moving to Bedford. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge #134 of Bedford, Iowa, and an honorary member of the  Triangle Club of the Methodist Church.

She will be remembered as a kind and loving mother and grandmother, and will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

[Roberts, Ira Alva]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      December 15, 1938     [p. 1]

Ira A. Roberts Of Bedford, Succumbs

Ira A. [lva] Roberts, a resident of Bedford and Taylor County for many years, died suddenly about 5 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 13, while attending the community sale in Clarinda. He was standing in a truck and assisting in the loading of posts, when death came without warning.

Mr. Roberts is survived by his wife and four daughters. The daughters are Mrs. Earlus Norton of Bedford, Mrs. Mildred DeVoe of Conway, Mrs. Edith Appelzellar [Appenzeller] and Mrs. Ethel Hill of Des Moines. Also by several grandchildren, a sister and brother, Mrs. Albert Salen of Bedford and Herman Roberts of Conway.

The funeral services will be held at one o’clock Friday afternoon at the Walker and Shum Funeral Home, conducted by Leslie Cobb. The body will be placed in the Mausoleum in the Fairview cemetery.

[Ira Alva Roberts]

Bedford Times-Press

December 29, 1938    p. 3

Ira A. Roberts

Ira A. [lva] Roberts, son of Mary E. and William Roberts, was born in Taylor County near Conway, April 20, 1873, and passed away at Clarinda, Iowa, very suddenly of a heart attack on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 1938, at the age of 65 years, 7 months and 23 days.

In the year 1898 he was united in marriage to Effie Smith.  To this union four daughters were born, Mrs. Earlis Norton of Bedford, Mrs. Mildred De Voe of Conway, Mrs. Edith Appenzeller and Mrs. Ethel Hill of Des Moines.

He spent all of his life on the home farm with the exception of a few years, which were spent on a farm south-west of Bedford.

Mr. Roberts and his wife retired from the farm and moved to Bedford in March of this year, but he continued to spend much of his time in his farm interests.

Besides his wife and children he is survived by five grandchildren; one brother, Herman Roberts of Conway, and one sister, Mrs. Grace Salen of Bedford.

 

[Roberts, William Martin]

Bedford Free Press

Tuesday      October 7, 1913     p. 8

W. M. Roberts

William M. [artin] Roberts, who has been the victim of a lingering malady for the past three years, died at his home in Bedford, Friday October 3, at 4 p. m. He had been failing rapidly for the last month, the past three weeks being unable to take nourishment of any kind. His faithful wife and daughter Grace have been constantly at his side, ministering untiringly to his comfort. He son Ira A. [lva], who lives in Ross township and Hermon near Conway, have been with him nearly all the time for the past month, since it was seen that the end was near.

William M. [artin] Roberts was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, January 12, 1844, and died at his home in Bedford October 3, 1913.

His parents were R. [euben] P. and Mary E. [Holmes] Roberts. His father died when he was a small boy and he was left to the care of a widowed mother. After he arrived at manhood the family moved to Missouri, where they lived a few years, coming to Taylor County in 1868. October 26, 1871, he was married to Mary E. [lizabeth] Wright. To this union five children were born, two daughters dying at early age. Two sons, Ira A. [lva] of Bedford and Hermon [Herman Porter], of Conway, his daughter Grace who is still at home and his wife are left to mourn his loss. Deceased also is survived by a sister, Mrs. S. [usan] T. Ray of Gravity and eight grandchildren.

Since coming to the county deceased has lived on a farm near Conway, until 1901, when he retired, coming to Bedford where he has since resided. Early in life he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and has ever since remained a faithful and consistent member. Funeral services were held Monday at 10 a. m. at the home, conducted by Rev. Joe Goodsill. The remains were taken to Conway on the noon train Monday accompanied by a large number of friends. Interment was in the Conway cemetery.
[Note: The same obituary was printed in the Bedford Times-Republican, October 9, 1913, page 3.]

[Roberts, William Martin]

Bedford Free Press

Tuesday      October 7, 1913     p. 8

LOCAL NEWS                                             

Mrs. S. [usan] T. Ray and son Don and wife of Gravity attended the funeral of W.[illiam] M. [artin] Roberts Monday.

[ROBERTS, WILLIAM MARTIN]
Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, October 9, 1913
Among those who attended the burial of W.[illiam] M. [artin] Roberts at Conway Monday were Mesdames Jerry Hough, R. M. Powell, Denny Bannon, H. Montgomery, R. J. Salen, J. A. Carr, Mr. and Mrs. George Daniels, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wright, Miss Jennie Tracy and Albert Salen.

[ROBERTS, WILLIAM MARTIN]
Bedford Free Press (Bedford, Iowa), Tuesday, October 14, 1913
J. P. Rumble, who was here to attend the funeral of his cousin, W. [illiam] M.[artin] Roberts, returned to his home in Des Moines Tuesday. For many years Mrs. Rumble was in the lumber business in Conway and later for a time in Clearfield. For several years he has resided in Des Moines where he has been engaged in the loan and brokerage business.

 

[Ruyle, Dorothy May Stephens]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday     February 13, 1991

Dorothy Stephens Ruyle

Graveside funeral services for Dorothy [May] Stephens Ruyle, former resident of this community, were conducted by Rev. Carl Cummings Tuesday, Feb. 12, 1991 at the Conway Cemetery. Mrs. Ruyle passed away February 2, 1991.

Dorothy Stephens Ruyle was born at New Market, Iowa on January 27, 1905, the daughter of John [Shriver] Stephens and Bertha Thomas Stephens. The family then moved to Bedford, Iowa and Dorothy continued school until completing the 10th grade.

On July 26, 1923 she was united in marriage to Marvin Ruyle at Bedford, Iowa. They lived in Bedford and Gravity before moving to College Springs where they lived for 11 years. They then moved to Oregon during World War II where Marvin worked for the state as a mechanic. Later they moved to Olympia, Wash, where they lived the rest of their married life. Marvin preceded her in death in 1973. Dorothy remained in Olympia until moving to Anita, Iowa in 1981 and she had lived at Colonial Manor off and on since that time.

Mrs. Ruyle is survived by two sisters: Marjorie Ray of Clarinda, Iowa and Annabelle Savage of Independence, Mo.; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, and infant child, one brother Jack Stephens and three sisters: Mary Frances Moser, Ruth Wood, and Bertha June Stephens, who died in infancy.

Dorothy will be remembered by her loved ones and friends as a kind and consider-ate person and she will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.

[Wolcott, Lydia Gleason]

Iowa South-West

Saturday     July 19, 1879     p. 3

Died---July 18th, 1879, at 3 o’clock p. m. at her residence in Bedford, Lydia [Gleason], Consort of Hiram Wolcott, aged 87 years.

[Wolcott, Lydia Gleason]

Bedford Argus

Thursday     July 24, 1879     p. 3

A most estimable woman of this city died the 18th instant, Mrs. Lydia [Gleason], wife of Hiram Wolcott. She was in her eighty-eight year and had lived with her husband in Taylor County for twelve years. She and our aged friend, who is now left desolated, had journeyed through this life together sixty-one years. Six children mourn her loss. Father Wolcott in his sad bereavement has the heartfelt sympathy of this entire community.

[Wolcott, Lydia Gleason]

Iowa South-West

Saturday     July 26, 1879     p. 3

Died

WOLCOTT---At the residence of her daughter, Laura A. Lucas, in Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa, of Senile Grangrene, Lydia, consort of Hiram Wolcott, in the 88th year of her age.

The deceased was born in Ulster County, state of New York, removed from thence to Ontario County, in the township of Middlesex, and was married to Hiram Wolcott March 4th, 1818, from whence they moved to Ashtabula county, Ohio, about the year 1823, where they resided until the autumn of 1866, when they removed to Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa. The deceased was watched over by kind friends and loving children, but death had hurled his unerring shaft, and she accepted it with calm resignation. She was a woman of great physical endurance and untiring in her efforts to do good. She leaves a loving husband and six children, four of whom live in Taylor county, one in Ashtabula county, the other one in Crawford county, Pennsylvania.

Wolcott, Mary Elizabeth Rodgers]

Bedford Times-Republican

Tuesday     October 31, 1905     [p. 1]

Death of Mrs. Wolcott

Mary E. [lizabeth] Wolcott, wife of R. [iley] H. [iram] Wolcott, died at her home in Bedford this morning at 8 o’clock, age 71 years, 1 month and 16 days.

The funeral services will be held at the Christian church tomorrow at 1 p. m. conducted by Rev. Ellis of Hopkins. Interment at Fairview cemetery.

Mrs. Wolcott has been ill for a long time and for many days has taken no nourishment. All hope of her recovery has long since been abandoned. She has been gradually growing weaker, until just after daybreak this morning her spirit took flight to that land where sorrow and suffering are unknown.

[Wolcott, Mary Elizabeth Rodgers]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday      November 2, 1905    [p. 1]

Passed Over The River

Mrs. Mary E. [lizabeth] Wolcot [t], who has been ill for some time, died at her home in Bedford Tuesday morning, October 31, at 8 o’clock, aged 71 years, 1 month and 16 days.

Deceased was the wife of R. [iley] H. [iram] Wolcott and has lived in Bedford many years. She was a good Christian lady and loved and respected by all who knew her.

Funeral services were held at the Christian church in Bedford, yesterday at 1 o’clock, conducted by Elder Ellis of Hopkins. The body was laid to rest in Fairview cemetery.

[Wolcott, Mary Elizabeth Rodgers]

Bedford Times-Republican

Friday       November 3, 1905     p. 3

Obituary

Mary E. [lizabeth] Rodgers was born in Michigan, Feb. 5, 1834; was married to R. [iley] H.[iram] Wolcott at Andover, Ohio in 1853, where they resided until Oct. 18th, going from there to Illinois where they remained until ’64. Leaving there they came to Iowa, settling in Taylor Co., which has been their home until the present time.

To them were born six children, three sons and three daughters, Wm. D. of Liberal, Mo., Mrs. Marshall Meron, Savannah, Mo., Joseph A. [rthur] of Hopkins, Mo., and Mrs. Henry Doran [Emma Rhoda] of this city.

Mrs. Wolcott accepted her Savior at a young and tender age and since that time has been a consistent and active church worker.

While her health permitted she was always at her place in the church. She never lost interest in the work of the church, even after compelled to remain at home but always inquired after its prosperity.

Mrs. Wolcott’s bible was her ever constant companion and at her request it is now placed beside here. She has patiently endured her suffering and passed to her rest Oct. 30, 1905, at the age of 71 years, 8 months and 25 days.

[Wolcott, Riley Hiram]

Bedford Free Press

Tuesday      November 10, 1914     p. 8

Riley H. Wolcott Dies In St. Joseph

The remains of Riley H. Wolcott were brought here from St. Joseph Monday noon and taken immediately to Fairview cemetery for interment. There was a short service at the grave conducted by Elder Robb. Mr. Wolcott died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dora Mason, Friday November 6. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dorn [Doran], Mrs. Dora Mason, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wolcott and William Wolcott of Gerard, Kan., accompanied the remains here.

[Wolcott, Riley Hiram]

Bedford Times-Republican

Thursday      November 19, 1914     p. 8

R. H. Wolcott

R. [iley] H. [iram] Wolcott died Saturday of last week at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dora Mason at St. Joseph. The remains were brought to Bedford Monday and interment was made in the Fairview cemetery Monday afternoon. He leaves to mourn his death two daughters, Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Henry Doran of St. Joseph and two sons, J. [oseph] A. [rthur] Wolcott of St. Joseph and W. [illiam] D. Wolcott of Gerard, Kan. All of the children were present in Bedford at the burial. Mr. Wolcott was 77 years old and was for many years a resident of Bedford.

[WOLCOTT, RILEY HIRAM]
Bedford Times-Republican (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, November 12, 1914
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dorn, Mrs. Dora Mason and Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Wolcott of St. Joseph and W. D. Wolcott of Gerard, Kan., attended the burial of Riley Wolcott here Monday afternoon.