Linda J. Gremmer

January 12, 2011

Linda J. Gremmer, 63, of Britt, passed away surrounded by her family at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital, on Thursday, January 6, 2011, at 9:00 a.m., after a great fight with esophageal cancer.

Private family funeral services will be held according to the family's wishes. Visitation was held on Sunday, January 9, from 3-5:00  p.m., at the Ewing Funeral Chapel in Britt.

Linda, the daughter of Pearl and George (Smith) Gremmer, was born on March 30, 1947. Linda was raised on a farm between Britt and Wesley. She was united in marriage and had three children, Ramona, Rodney and Raymond. She later married James Fjelstad on July 24, 1972 and had a daughter, Sheri. They bought a house in Lake Mills and raised their family. Linda worked at Winnebago for 12 years in fiberglass. In 1985, Linda and James decided to go their separate ways. Linda then moved to Arizona and lived with her brother, Denny. After a year she moved back to Britt and lived with her mom and helped take care of Grandma Rose. In her spare time, she cleaned the Duncan Hall and also the Pol-Inn. Until she got sick, she was employed at the Westview Care Center as the laundry lady for approximately 14 years. This was a job she really enjoyed.

Her passions in life were crocheting blankets, gardening, her animals, baking oatmeal raisin cookies and making her famous chicken dumpling soup. She really enjoyed the annual Hobo Days parade, barbecues, racing cars and roller-skating at the Britt Roller Rink. Linda really loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was always preaching to all the kids and grandkids to have patience. Linda will be greatly missed by her family and will be in their hearts forever.

Linda is survived by daughter, Ramona Thompson and her husband, Paul of Britt and their children, Tina, Jon, Paula, Tyler and Trinity; son, Rodney Crowder and his wife, Kristie of Britt and their children, Joshua, Christopher, Jacob and Hailey; son, Raymond Fjelstad and his wife, Marnie of Glenville, Minnesota and their children, Ray Thomas, Cameo, Tanner, Ryan and Aaron; daughter, Sheri Fjelstad and special friend, Jason of Lake Mills; eight great-grandchildren; brother, Dennis Gremmer; and sister, Carol Preuschl.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Orville and Rose Smith; parents, George and Pearl Gremmer; and brother, Rick Gremmer.

Marge Becker

January 26, 2011

Marge Becker, died on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at the Algona Manor Care Center. She was 78.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, January 15, at 10:30 a.m., at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wesley, with Father Randy Schon officiating. Burial was in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Margaret Ann Becker, was born on August 3, 1932 in Britt, the daughter of Joseph and Rose (Klesel) Young. She grew up in Garner and graduated from the Garner High School in 1950. After her schooling she worked for a short time at the bank in Garner. On June 2, 1955, Margaret was united in marriage to Alvin Becker at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner. After their marriage they lived near Wesley, where they raised their family and farmed. After retirement Marge worked as a cook for 10 years at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Marge enjoyed quilting, putting puzzles together, playing cards, fishing with Alvin and she did her fair share of cooking. They also enjoyed wintering in Texas and Arizona. Marge was a member of the St. Joseph Parish and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas

She is survived by her children, Ed Becker and friend, Susie Durst of Everly, Jean Warm of Carroll, Betty (Ron) Koontz of Council Bluffs, Donna (Steve) Brown of Omaha, Nebraska, Mike (Terry) Becker of Humboldt, JoAnn Gronstal of Houston, Texas, Jerry (Jeanine) Becker of Gilbert, Arizona, Pat Becker and friend, Kathy Manning of Las Vegas, Nevada and Donnie (Dawn) Becker of Iowa City; 15 grandchildren; many step-grandchildren; brother and sisters, Paul and Mag Young of Garner, Dorothy Huinker of Garner, Lorraine Chizek of Britt and Evelyn Pavelka of Britt; and many nieces and nephews.

Marge was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alvin on January 31, 2010; daughter, Mary Jane Becker; and brother, Donnie Young.

Arrangements were handled by Oakcrest Funeral Services of Wesley. Condolences may be left at www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.

Erna Hillenga

January 19, 2011

Erna Hillenga, 89, of Woden, passed away on Friday, January 14, 2011, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 19, at 10:30 a.m., at the Woden Christian Reformed Church in rural Woden, with Pastor Harrison Harnden officiating. Burial will be in the Woden Christian Reformed Church Cemetery. Visitation was held on Tuesday, January 18, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Ewing Funeral Home in Britt and continued one hour prior to the services at the church.

Erna Iverson Hillenga, daughter of Hans and Anne Iverson, was born in Crystal Lake on October 1, 1921. She was the fifth of 14 children. She attended the Crystal Lake Schools. Erna was united in marriage to Edwin Hillenga on July 19, 1941 in Elmore, Minnesota. She was baptized in the Woden Christian Reformed Church. They farmed south of Woden until April 1967, when they moved into Woden. Erna lived in Woden until 2009, when she moved to the Summit House in Britt.

Erna was a member of the Woden Christian Reformed Church, where she was involved in activities, including the Calvinette leader, Bible School teacher, ladies aide and quilting. Erna loved to fish, play cards, read, travel and do crossword puzzles. She also enjoyed anything to do with sewing, especially making quilts and needlework to share with loved ones.

Erna is survived by her children, Sharon "Kay" Hunter of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Doris (Dean) Haugland of Crystal Lake, Edwin (Vicki) of Wesley and Dean (Suzanne) of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; son-in-law, John Smidt of Woden; 16 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Janelle Odegaard, Dorothy Crapser, Peggy Black and Marlene Dutton; sister-in-law, Lydia Hillenga; and many nieces and nephews.

Erna was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin in 1970; daughters, Jean Smidt and Carol Clendenen; four brothers and five sisters.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be given to the Kanawha Christian School.

Bill Schrader

January 26, 2011

Bill Schrader, 87, of Britt, died on Thursday, January 20, 2011, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Britt, with Rev. Dale Glawatz officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery.

William August Schrader, the son of Miner and Emma (Prull) Schrader, was born on February 14, 1923 in Britt. He graduated from the Britt High School in 1942. After high school he farmed northeast of Britt until 1966. Bill drove school bus for a number of years and worked for the city of Britt until his retirement in 1987.

He enjoyed woodworking, restoring furniture, antique cars and traveling to Arizona to visit family. He was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner.

Bill is survived by his two daughters, Gretchen McDaniel of Des Moines and Allison Gilbert of Crystal Lake, Illinois; three granddaughters, Crystal Erdman, Breanna Erdman and Sierra Gilbert-Erdman; a sister, Alice (Bob) Bruns of Phoenix, Arizona; several nieces, nephews and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Miner Schrader.

Carol Elysabeth Lavender

February 2, 2011

Carol Elysabeth Lavender, passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2011, at home in Sun City Lincoln Hills, California.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, February 5, at 11:00 a.m., at the Lincoln United Methodist Church, Lincoln, California. Internment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Britt at a later date.

Carol, the daughter of Guy and Marie Miller McGinnis, was born on December 25, 1933 in Mason City. She grew up in Britt and graduated from the Britt High School in 1951. Carol married Kenneth Edgar Elwood and raised three sons, Paul Edgar, Perry William and Andrew Karl.

In 1972, Carol married Ken Lavender and moved to California, where she began a career in the Visitors and Convention Bureau in Santa Barbara. She became the marketing director for the Ventura Bureau; executive director for the Oxnard Convention and Visitors Bureau; and economic development director in charge of marketing for the city of Fillmore. Carol moved to Lincoln, California, in 2005 and became very active in the Lincoln United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Lincoln Hills Single Group, Lincoln Hills Singers and the Vaudeville Group. She was a member of P.E.O (Chapter NT), Eastern Star, as well as the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, where she represented ImageCraft Studios.

Carol was a gifted vocal soloist and made music most important throughout her life by singing in church choirs and community choruses. She was a loving, caring, energetic person and was dearly loved by family and friends.

Preceded in death by her parents and her husbands, Carol is survived by her sister, Judith Ann Webb; her sons, Paul (Cathie), Perry (Vicki) and Andy; stepson, Jay Lavender; stepdaughter, Jan Lavender; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; cousins; sister-in-laws; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Steven Hesley

February 16, 2011

Steven J. Hesley, of Oracle, Arizona, passed away on Monday, January 31, 2011, from lymphoma.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Britt. Memorials may be directed to the Rancho Linda Vista Oracle Arts @ RLVOracleArts, P. O. Box 160, Oracle, Arizona.

Steve was born on September 11, 1960, to Raleigh and Bertha (Pannkuk) Hesley of Britt. Steve graduated from the Britt High School in 1977 and graduated from Devry Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. After graduation, Steve worked for Hughes Space and Aircraft and worked on the Galileo probe that went to Jupiter. He celebrated his involvement in the space program by giving talks to children at school which included model rocket launches.

He was an avid hiker, naturalist and photographer. His love of nature and his special outlook on the world was captured in his photographs. He was a member of GO! Green Oracle and a member of the Oracle Garden Club. Steve supported the arts and a love of nature by participating in art festivals and community events that helped people expand their understanding of our environment.

Steve continued his father's commitment to community by participating in the programs offered with the local fire department. He became a CERT first responder for the Oracle Fire Department - part of the volunteer resources for firefighters and emergency personnel. He worked on a program called FireWise surveying the dead trees along the border of the local state park and adjoining residences.

Steve is survived by his wife, Giovanna Hesley of Oracle, Arizona; stepdaughter, Natasha of Los Angeles, California; sisters, Beverly (Duane) Malek of Duncan and Sue (David) Haddix of Gillette, Wyoming; brother, Dale (Linda) Hesley of Britt; five nephews, one niece, one great-nephew and one great-niece.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Raleigh and Bertha Hesley; and infant sister, Pamela.