Harley Smith

Dorothy Clawson

Willis Swanstrom

Willis was born Sept. 27, 1917, in Iowa Falls, to August and Anna Swanstrom. On May 15, 1943, he married Valeria Dul, who died May 23, 1999. He was a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy and served from April 1936 to July 1963, including service during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.

In 1977 he moved to Grants Pass where he was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church and the U.S. Navy Fleet Reserve.

He is survived by three daughters, Agnes Knight and Mary Shoumaker, both of Long Beach and Elizabeth Talbot of Fontana, Calif.; two sons, Willis Swanstrom of Cypress, Calif. and Richard Swanstrom of Long Beach, Calif.; ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Elmer Peterson

Elmer was born Dec. 1, 1914, at Rollo, Ill. to Alfred and Kamilla Marker Peterson. When he was two years old they moved to Clarion, later to Williams and finally to the Dows area. He received his education in Wright and Hamilton County schools and was confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in 1929. On June 18, 1949, he married Aletha Lentz at Brainerd, Minn. They operated Peterson Trucking and later resumed farming.

He is survived by a son, Don Lancaster and his wife, Barbara, of Des Moines; a daughter, Shelby Lancaster Toussaint and husband, Jim, of Ellsworth; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Agnes Greaves and Helen Christopher. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Aletha, in 1999; two brothers; a sister; and a grandson.

Warren Truesdale

Warren was born Nov. 16, 1949, in Englewood, N.J. to Elmer and Mittie Davis Truesdale. He graduated from Englewood High School and served during the Vietnam conflict in the United States Air Force. He was married to Margaret Flowers and they were later divorced. On March 14, 1985, he married Deborah Saunders in Engelwood. They moved to Eldora in 1987 and he worked as a youth worker for the Iowa State Training School for Boys until taking disability retirement in 1999. He was a member of the Steamboat Rock First Presbyterian Church and served as vice president for AFSME, Local No. 2988. His hobbies were hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah; three sons, Adam and James, residing on the East Coast and Warren D. Truesdale of Steamboat Rock; a brother, Elmer "Billy" Truesdale of South Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Mittie Elizabeth; and an infant twin sister, Wendy.

Donald Stull

ELDORA - Donald R. Stull, 86, of Eldora, died Friday, Nov. 2, 2001, at the Eldora Nursing and Rehab Center. Services were held Tuesday, Nov. 6 at the Beaman United Methodist Church in Beaman with burial in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Grundy Center. Rev. Mary Shultz officiated. American Legion Post No. 349 and AMVETS No 17 provided full military honors.

Donald was born June 3, 1915, in rural Beaman to Clarence and Jennie Rowe Stull. He graduated from Beaman High School in 1933 and attended Iowa State University studying engineering. He was a veteran of WWII and served in the Africa and Italy theaters. In the late 40's and 50's he owned and operated Stull Motor Company in Grundy Center. On Dec. 27, 1954, he married Loretta Connell in Grundy Center and they lived in Grundy Center. He went into the dry cleaning and laundry service, owning several businesses in North Central Iowa, including Don's Cleaners in Grundy Center. He retired in 1980 and moved to Eldora in 1999. He was a former member of the Beaman United Methodist Church; Beaman and Grundy Center American Legions. He was a great story teller and was an avid sports fan.

He is survived by his wife, Loretta; three daughters, Shelley Stull and husband, Frank Webb, of Chicago, Ill. and Melody Hoy and husband, Tim, of Eldora and Tamara Evans and husband, Tom, of Seattle, Wash.; a son, Rev. Neal Stull of Cromwell, Conn.; a sister, Maxine Ashton, and husband, Floyd, of Beaman; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Dale.

Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora was in charge of arrangements.

Michael Smith

STEAMBOAT ROCK - Michael Jon Smith, 51, of Steamboat Rock, was killed Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001, in a motorcycle accident near Bondurant on Hwy. 65. Services will be held Friday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Steamboat Rock with burial in the Steamboat Rock Cemetery. Rev. Steven Hill will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday, from 3 - 8 p.m. at Surls Funeral Home in Iowa Falls with the family present from 6 - 8 p.m.

Michael (Mike) was born March 13, 1951 in Eldora to Jack and Donna Babcock Smith. He graduated from Steamboat Rock High School in 1969 and attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, Minn. On July 24, 1974, he married Dennise Huston in Sioux Falls, S.D. He farmed and was a truck driver for Herrold Trucking in Owasa. He was a member of the Pine Lake Saddle Club, and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was involved in numerous church activities and was the former assistant wrestling coach at Ackley High School.

He is survived by his wife, Dennise; and two sons, Lucas and Levi, of Iowa Falls; his parents, Jack and Donna Smith of Steamboat Rock; a brother, Tod Smith and his wife, Deanna, of Ackley; a sister, Shelley Whitlatch and husband, Michael, of Tucson, Ariz.; his mother-in-law, Hazel Huston Hickman of Marshalltown; and thirteen nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Zachary in 1996.

Margaret Crotty

Margaret was born Aug. 9, 1922, at Bristow to William and Thelma Hershey Sidmore. She graduated from Bristow High School and married Bud Crotty. She was a dietician at the Franklin General Hospital in Hampton. Margaret was a member of the United Church of Christ in Hampton and enjoyed bowling and singing in the choir.

She is survived by a son, Keith Crotty of Montley, Minn.; two daughters, Karen Wilkin of Hampton and Karla Reynolds and husband, Jim, of Ankeny; two brothers, Darold "Doug" Sidmore and wife, Marlene, of Bristow and Erwin Sidmore and wife, Helen, of Madrid; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, two sisters and one brother.

Updated 11/08/2001 by Chuck Prickett

Helen Hilchrist

Ruby Lee

Ruby was born Dec. 3, 1905, in Moulton to Daniel and Malinda Burns Robbins. She graduated from Lovilla High School in 1924. On Sept. 21, 1925, she married Ernest Lee in Osceola. They moved six times between 1925 - 42 finally settling in Eldora. In 1972 they moved to St. Joseph, Mo. and in 1979 returned to Steamboat Rock. She lived at Polk City Manor for five years before moving to Heritage Care Center in 1995. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Eldora, enjoyed playing the organ, cooking, sewing and working with flowers.

She is survived by her son, Richard and wife, Mary, of Tucson, Ariz.; three daughters, Joan Grandanette of Des Moines, Joy Larson and husband, Russell, of Palmdale, Calif. and Judy Manship and husband, Tom, of Iowa Falls; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ernie; four sisters and two brothers.

Creps-Abels Funeral Home of Eldora was in charge of arrangements.

Everett Kantak

Everett was born Nov. 14, 1932, in Castana to Albert and Aninia Nelson Kantak. He was raised in the Ellsworth area and on Feb. 5, 1952, he married Darlene Maisel. He worked as a farm hand for several years before moving to Eldora where he was employed by the State Training School for Boys for 13 years, and then for the Lawn Hill COOP Elevator. He retired in 1995 and in July of 2001 he moved to Ackley. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene; a daughter, Joyce Jackson and husband, Gary, of Marshalltown; a son, Ron, of Eldora; two sisters, Helen Megan of Ellsworth and Irene Allen and husband, Allan, of Knoxville, Ill.; three grandchildren, Christine and Keith Jackson and Adam Kantak; and many neices and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, LaVerne; a sister-in-law, Jennie; and two nephews.

Creps-Abels Funeral Home of Eldora was in charge of arrangements.

Merland Bohnsack

Merland was born April 2, 1921, in Franklin County to Henry and Lizzie Thompson Bohnsack. He attended Hansell Grade School and graduated from Hampton High School. He served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1942 - 46. On Oct. 15, 1949, he married Mary Baldwin in Faribault, Minn. Merland was employed by John Deere in Waterloo most of his life as a carpenter and was a painter for Parks Construction in Hampton. His hobby was fixing and tinkering with bicycles and other gadgets.

He is survived by a two daughters, Catherine Waugh of Emmetsburg and Elizabeth Bell of Graettinger; a stepdaughter, Rita Stimac of Manly; a son, Edward Bohnsack, of Fort Dodge; a sister, Delores Chadwick of Frederica, Del.; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters and two brothers.

Glenita Pryor

IOWA FALLS - Glenita C. Pryor, 90, of Iowa Falls, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2001, at Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls with burial in the Berlin Cemetery, Jackson Township, Hardin County. Rev. Don Preston will officiate.

Glenita was born May 25, 1911, at her parents farm home in Jackson Township, to Charles and Susie Platts Jackson. She graduated from Owasa High School in 1928 and was employed as the chief operator for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Iowa Falls for several years. On June 20, 1935, she married Robert D. Pryor at the Little Brown Church at Nashua. They lived most of their married life in Decorah, where she owned and operated the Pryor Flower and Gift Shop. They moved to Iowa Falls and retired here.

Glenita was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Iowa Falls, the United Methodist Women; and the Highland Country Club.

She is survived by a sister, Doris Hoffman of Scenic Manor; a brother, Gareld Jackson and wife, Betty, of Heather Manor, Des Moines; a sister-in-law, Mae Jackson of Eldora; a special friend, Donald Ruigh of Scenic Manor; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Susie Jackson; her husband, Robert Pryor in 1991; a brother, Dallas Jackson; and a brother-in-law, Leonard Hoffman.

Linn's Funeral Home of Iowa Falls is in charge of arrangements.

Dora Weber

ELDORA - Dora M. Weber, 97, of Eldora, died Friday, Nov. 23, 2001, at the Eldora Nursing and Rehab Center. Services were held Monday, Nov. 26, at St. John's United Church of Christ in Ackley, with burial in Oakwood Cemetery, Ackley. Pastor Michael Dack officiated. A memorial fund has been established to St. John's United Church of Christ.

Dora was born Feb. 22, 1904, on a farm in Jackson Township, northwest of Eldora, to Simon and Caroline Doeringsfeld Granner. She graduated from Owasa High School and Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls. She taught elementary grades at Auburn and Owasa. On Aug. 30, 1936, she married Walter (Rusty) Weber in the Honey Creek Church, Hardin County. They lived a few years in Iowa Falls and Eldora, and then moved to a farm near Ackley. Dora joined St. John's United Church of Christ in Ackley and remained on the farm until her husband's death in 1954. The following year she moved to Eldora and taught school in Steamboat Rock for 14 years, retiring in 1969.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rusty; a sister, Linda Kadolph; and a brother, Walter "Doc" Granner.

Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora was in charge of arrangements.

Merna Ites

IOWA FALLS - Merna L. Ites, 87, of Iowa Falls, died Sunday, Nov. 25, 2001, at Heritage Care Center in Iowa Falls. Services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls, with burial in Union Cemetery, Iowa Falls. Rev. Thomas Vos will officiate.

Merna was born July 28, 1914, in Robertson, to Herman and Mazie Bowers Richtsmeier and attended elementary school in Robertson and high school in Iowa Falls. On Aug. 15, 1932, she married Maynard Ites at Galena, Ill., and they farmed in the Iowa Falls area. She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening, cooking, playing Bingo and playing the piano.

She is survived by a daughter, Gladys (Tootie) Swift, of Iowa Falls; a son, Gary Ites of Gravois Mills, Mo.; 14 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Vera Claude, Jean Chaney and Marion Johnson, all of Hampton; and two brothers, Carl and Virgil Richtsmeier, both of Hampton. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant sister; two sons, Floyd and Harold; and an infant great-great-granddaughter.

Surls Funeral Home in Iowa Falls, is in charge of arrangements.

Marlyn Ellison

Marlyn was born July 24, 1938, in rural Steamboat Rock, to Gerald and Frances Snapp Ellison. He was raised on the family farm and attended school in Owasa. On June 15, 1974, he married Marla Smuck in the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Marlyn was employed by Swift and Company, and was a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. He is survived by his wife, Marla, of Marshalltown; a daughter, Mindy Ellison of Slater; a son, Mathew Ellison of Marshalltown; a sister, Marilyn Meyeraan and husband, Vernon, of Hubbard; and a brother, Donald Ellison and wife, LaVonne, of Owasa. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Pursel-Davis Funeral Home in Marshalltown, is in charge of arrangements.

Jackie Dankel

Jackie was born Feb. 1, 1946, at Carroll, to Lyle and Rhoda Potts Dankel. He graduated from Eldora High School and served two years, 1965 - 67, in the United States Army as a medic. He was wounded in action, received a Purple Heart and was honorably discharged in 1968 due to his wounds. He resided in Denver, Colo., where he worked for the U.S. Post Office as a postal clerk for 32 years. He retired in May 2001, and moved to Iowa Falls. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and was a Ford Mustang enthusiast.

Survivors include his mother, Rhoda; four sons, Scott and wife, Lisa, of Aurora, Colo., Chad and wife, Lisa, of Hubbard, Chris and wife, Dawn, of Jewell, and Justin and wife, Ami, of Temecula, Calif.; a daughter, Amy of Denver, Colo.; two sisters, Deana Lane and husband, David, of Fort Dodge and Laura Neubauer of Whitten; a brother, Delmar, of Fort Dodge; and 12 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father and a sister, Mary Lou Crouch.

Creps-Abels Funeral Home of Eldora, was in charge of arrangements.

Louise Christensen

Louise was born Jan. 1, 1921, in Franklin County, to Adoph and Hedwig Bittner Rother. She attended rural Franklin County schools and on Oct. 10, 1943, she married Nels Christensen and they were later divorced. She was a homemaker.

She is survived by a daughter, Lynn Wasser of Sunland, Calif.; two sisters, Florence Ubben of Hampton, and Alice Rother of Sunland, Calif.; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers and a sister.

Miriam Strothcamp

Miriam was born June 21, 1903, in Groveland, Ill., to Silas and Elizabeth Strickfaden Hake. She came to Iowa with her parents at age 10 and the family settled in Sherman Township near Radcliffe. She graduated from Radcliffe High School in 1921 and was employed at Bulland's General Store in Radcliffe, for seven years. In 1928 she married Adolph Strothcamp in a double ceremony with her sister, Gertrude and husband, Lloyd Rasmussen. They owned the Sherman Mercantile, a general store and John Deere dealership for 26 years. In 1954 they purchased a farm and farmed until her husband's death in 1964. Miriam moved to Radcliffe in 1969 and worked at Bethany Manor in Story City. She moved to Iowa Falls in 1992 and became a resident of at Heritage Care Center.

She is survived by a son, Merle and wife, Judy, of Ankeny; two grandchildren, Jeff Strothkamp and wife, Kris, of Ankeny, and Janeen Earwood and husband, Bill, of Indianapolis, Ind.; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Gertrude Rasmussen of Iowa Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and three brothers.

Boeke Funeral Home of Hubbard, is in charge of arrangements.