Clarence R. Wilson

May 4, 2011

Clarence R. Wilson, 92, of Britt, died on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, May 5, at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Britt, with the Rev. Robert Dishman officiating. Burial will be in the Glenwood Cemetery in Goldfield. Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, at the Cataldo Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to the services on Thursday. Memorials may be given to the Britt Ambulance or to the Park Church of Christ.

Clarence Robert Wilson, the son of Harold and Charlotte (Brown) Wilson, was born on February 19, 1919 at Prairie City, Iowa. He graduated from the Prairie City High School in 1936. On October 6, 1940, he married Bonna Belle Beukema of Newton. They farmed in the Altoona area until 1958 when they moved to a farm near Britt. Clarence farmed all of his life.

He loved his family, friends and traveling. He enjoyed playing cards and a good game of pool and dominoes, especially with his kids and grandkids. He was a member of the Park Church of Christ in Goldfield and the Britt Senior Citizens.

Clarence is survived by his wife of 70 years, Bonna of Britt; three children, Robert Wilson and wife, Judy of Eagle Grove, Barbara Dukes and husband, Donald of Bronson, Iowa and Shirley Hill and husband, Art of Belt, Montana; and six grandchildren and their families, Duane Wilson and wife, Molly and their three daughters, Heather, Amy and Sarah of Eagle Grove, Julie Dowden and her two daughters, Kari and Susie of Clarksville, Mark Wilson and wife, Beth and their three children, Emily, Noelle and Alex of Eagle Grove, Jon Dukes and wife, Sara and their two children, Nicole and Ryan of Bronson, Jena Dukes Huizinga and husband, Rick of St. James, Missouri and Jane Dukes Encinias and husband, Louie and their daughter, Larrissa of Holyoke, Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Leroy Wilson and wife, Winifred; and a sister, Edith Bailey and husband, Oscar.

The Cataldo Funeral Home of Britt, was in charge of the arrangements.

Florence M. Burgardt

May 4, 2011

On Monday, May 16, 2011, there will be a memorial service for Florence M. Burgardt, who died on December 30, 2010.

It will be held at the United Methodist Church, Britt, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. and burial in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Ethel Betty (Riekens) Keller

May 11, 2011

Ethel Betty (Riekens) Keller, 84, of Winnebago, Minnesota, formerly of Britt, passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at the United Hospital in Blue Earth, Minnesota.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., on Tuesday, May 10, at the Ewing Funeral Chapel in Britt, with the Rev. Geoffrey White officiating. Burial will be in the Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha. Visitation was held on Tuesday, May 10, at the funeral home.

Ethel, the youngest daughter of George and Anna Albright Riekens, was born on April 28, 1927, on the family farm three miles west and two miles south of Kanawha. Ethel worked in Kanawha and at the V & S Variety Store and Rexall Drug in Britt, until her marriage to Gene Keller on June 23, 1968. She was a bookkeeper for Keller Electric until Gene's retirement. Following Gene's death in 2003, Ethel moved to Winnebago, Minnesota, to be closer to family where she currently resided.

Ethel is survived by her son, Robert (Cindy) Riekens of Albert Lea, Minnesota; granddaughter, Angela Riekens of Albert Lea, Minnesota; grandsons, James and Randy Adams; great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Hoppe of Winnebago, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers, Henry and Arald Riekens; and sister, Ruth Riekens Earles.

Genevieve J. Nilges

May 11, 2011

Genevieve J. Nilges, 74, of Mason City, formerly of Britt, died on Friday, May 6, 2011, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, May 9, at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Britt, with Pastor Kathy Graves of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Genevieve Joan Nilges, the daughter of Orville and Gemima (Hill) Nelson, was born on September 2, 1936, on a farm northwest of Britt. She attended country school and graduated from the Britt High School in 1954. Genevieve continued her education at Waldorf College in Forest City and graduated with a two-year degree. She then taught kindergarten at Hull for two years. On August 9, 1958, she was married to Dale Nilges at the Kanawha Lutheran Church. They farmed near Britt for a year and during this time Geneveive taught school at the Burt Public School. They then moved to a farm near Sumner and Genevieve taught school at Fredericka, which was part of the Tripoli School system. After 13 years at Sumner they decided to buy a farm in the Elma area where they lived for the next 28 years.

In June 2000 Genevieve moved to Mason City. Genevieve enjoyed singing and music. She was a member of the Lutheran Church in Elma, where she held different offices in WELCA and taught Sunday School for many years. She belonged to the Britt VFW Auxiliary, was a 4-H member for 12 years and was a recipient of the " God Home County Award".

Genevieve is survived by her three children, Bruce (Deanna) Nilges of Elma, Lora (Randy) Young of Maxwell and Lisa (Doug) Rose of Fort Worth, Texas; 10 grandchildren, Jason, Matthew and Kirsten Nilges, Holly, Travis and Brittany Young and Julia, Logan, Sydney and Orion Rose; a sister, Clarice Schleuger of Woden; a brother, Orville (Bethine) Nelson of Iowa City; four nephews, Jim, John and Jay Nelson and Dean Schleuger; other relatives and several friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents in May of 1982 and October of 1987; a grandson, Douglas Nilges in January of 1986; a niece, Diana Schleuger in June of 2000; and a brother-in-law, Donald Schleuger in 1982.

Eleanor Martin

May 18, 2011

Eleanor Lynn Martin, 86, of Des Moines, passed away at Calvin Community in Des Moines on Sunday, May 8, 2011.

A memorial service was held at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 12, at the Calvin Community, Des Moines. Pastor David Madsen of the Cottage Grove Presbyterian Church in Des Moines officiated. Graveside services were held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, May 13, with burial of the cremated remains in the Evergreen Cemetery, Britt. Pastor Stan Johnson of the Britt Evangelical Free Church officiated.

Eleanor was born in Britt and attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines. She worked for the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company for four years and then for the Iowa-Des Moines National Bank, now Wells Fargo, for 39 years until retiring in 1986.

She is survived by one sister, Anna Lou Martin of Redmond, Washington; and two brothers, Rodger of Osage and Ralph of Rockford.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Laura (Thompson) Martin; two brothers, Jim and John; and sister, Isabel (Martin) Parker.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Cottage Grove Presbyterian Church Foundation in Des Moines, of which she was a member.