Roger Whitt

MASON CITY — Roger Whitt, 85, of 17110 300th St., Mason City, died early Monday morning (Sept. 5, 2005) at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at the First Christian Church, 318 N. Adams Ave., Mason City, with Pastor Mark Young and the Rev. Charles Aurand officiating. Interment will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.

The family met with relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005, at the Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 Second St. S.E. in Mason City. The visitation will continue one hour prior to Roger’s service today at the church.

Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to the Roger Whitt Memorial Fund.

Thoughts, condolences and stories may be sent to the family at www.fullertonfh.com.

Born on Jan. 6, 1920, in Fairchild, Wis., John Roger Whitt was the third son born to his parents, George Charles and Ethel (Wharam) Whitt. At a young age, his family relocated to the Mason City area, where Roger has since resided. Roger attended Mason City Schools, and in his early adulthood was employed at the sugar beet factory and worked a short time as a mechanic.

Roger met his future wife, Harriet Jane Abbott, in Mason City. The couple was united in marriage in Waterloo on Feb. 2, 1939. Roger and Harriet began their farming operation south of Clear Lake and later purchased farms near Mason City.

Together, Roger and Harriet enjoyed attending dances and going fishing, especially in Canada. They became the proud parents of a daughter and two sons. Roger retired from farming in 1993.

Roger was a member of the First Christian Church, the Elks Lodge, the Moose Lodge and the International Order of Odd Fellows, all in Mason City.

Roger found great contentment and peace living and working on his farms and spending time outdoors. He looked forward to the spring and fall seasons perched upon his John Deere tractors and providing for his family.

In his leisure time, Roger treasured time with his family, attending events his children and grandchildren were involved in, refinishing old furniture and creating woodworking projects. Roger had an appreciation and fascination of antique vehicles. He and Harriet donated a 1963 Falcon convertible to the Kenny Pioneer Museum for the community to also enjoy. His home was known as the gathering place for the holidays.

Roger was known to be fond of his wife’s homemade apple pies, oyster stew and eating his favorite snack, fresh strawberries. He remained very interested in the family farming operation and loved going for rides in the country to see what the crops were doing.

Roger will be dearly missed by all who have shared in his life.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet Whitt of Mason City; his daughter, Sharon (Larry) Ott, of Rockford; his two sons, Charles (Sandy) Whitt, of Mason City, and Jack (Jan) Whitt of Mishawaka, Ind.; his brother, George “Roland” Whitt of Mason City; his 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends.

Preceding Roger in death are his parents, George and Ethel Whitt; his brother, Richard Whitt, and his grandson, Adam R. Whitt.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, (641) 423-8676; www.fullertonfh.com.

Adella Sinnwell

ALTA VISTA — Adella Sinnwell, 90, of Alta Vista died Tuesday (Sept. 6, 2005) at Colonial Manor in Elma.

A funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Alta Vista. Inurnment will be in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Alta Vista.

Family will greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Alta Vista, where there will be a 7 p.m. remembering service. Friends may also call an hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Memorials may be directed to the local charity of the donor’s choice.

Adella Bernadina Sinnwell was born Oct. 29, 1914, at Alta Vista, the daughter of Charles F. and Rose (Hermsen) Recker. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Bernard Catholic Church. Adella received her education at a country school and later St. Williams Catholic School in Alta Vista, where she had to walk to school and board at the school when the weather was bad. After her schooling, she worked for neighboring families doing housework and caring for children. She also worked as a nurses aid for one year at the Waverly Hospital.

On Sept. 20, 1937, Adella was united in marriage to Urban J. Sinnwell at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Alta Vista. Following their marriage, the couple farmed near Ionia for two years and then moved to a farm south of Alta Vista. Later, the couple purchased a farm southeast of Alta Vista. In 1947, they purchased what was later called the Sinnwell Elevator in Alta Vista. In 1960, the couple moved off the farm into Alta Vista. After their retirement in 1971, the couple sold their home in Alta Vista and developed the Old Well Mobile Home Park in Alta Vista where Adella resided until January 2005, when she moved into Colonial Manor in Elma, where she received gracious care from the staff.

Adella enjoyed writing, especially frequent letters to her children and in her daily journal where she kept a detailed account of her life. She also played a large role in writing the history of Alta Vista for their Centennial Celebration. Adella also loved to play cards and was active in league bowling in past years, but most important to her were her grandchildren.

She was a lifelong member of St. Bernard Catholic Church, Rosary Society, Garden Club, Alta Vista VFW Auxiliary and the Alta Vista Commercial Club.

Adella is survived by her four children: Judy Sinnwell, O.S.F., of Dubuque, Eva (Larry) Brooks of Baker City, Ore., Tim (Linda) Sinnwell  of Eldorado Hills, Calif., Andy (Karen) Sinnwell of Forest City; seven grandchildren: Tony (Holly) Brooks, Rick Brooks, Jeremiah Massey, Sky Massey, Matt Sinnwell, Casey Sinnwell, and Kelsy Sinnwell; four great-grandchildren: Gideon, Josiah, Jedidiah, and Hannah Brooks; a sister, Marie Recker, of New Hampton; and a sister-in-law, Taisa Recker, of Alta Vista.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Urban; a sister and her husband, Nita (Elroy) Northness; five brothers and two sisters-in-law: Ambrose (Winnie) Recker, Ray (Evelyn) Recker, Leon Recker, Louis Recker, and Edwin Recker in infancy.

Conway-Kolbet Funeral Home in Elma is in charge of the arrangements.

Conway-Kolbet Funeral Home, (641) 393-2461.

Betty Mae Vorhes-Smith

HAMPTON — Betty Mae Vorhes-Smith, 69, of 402 First Ave S.W. in Hampton died Wednesday (Sept. 7, 2005) at Mercy Medical  Center-West Campus in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Congregational Church in Hampton, with the Rev. Duane Rhoadarmer officiating. Burial will be at the West Side Cemetery in Marble Rock.

Visitation for Betty Mae Vorhes-Smith will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home in Hampton, and one hour prior to services on Saturday at the church.

Betty Mae Vorhes-Smith was born March 3, 1936, at the home of her grandparents, George Ackley and Dora Thiemann-Ackley, in Marble Rock. She is the daughter of Doyle Edgar Vorhes and Lorraine Veonne Ackley-Vorhes-Ripley. On May 17, 1953, she was united in marriage to Earl Louis Smith, son of George Clifford Smith and Henrietta Alice Fink-Smith, at Greene, Iowa. Out of this union came four children, Shirley A. Smith of Hampton, George C. Smith Jr. of Mackinaw, Ill., Doyle E. Smith of Belmond and Brenda L. Smith-Jutting of Newton.

Living family members include her husband, Earl L. Smith; her daughter, Shirley A. Smith; her son, George C. Smith Jr. and wife, Nancy, and their five children: George C. Smith III and his four sons, Chase Gibson-Smith, Gangie Gibson-Smith, Brylan Gibson-Smith and Xzaver Smith; Robert Smith; Justin Smith and wife, Holly; Laci Smith-Hawanchak and husband, Dustin, and their son, Jordan Hawanchak; Cody Smith; her son, Doyle E. Smith and his two sons: James Smith and wife, Tammi, and their two children, Bailee Smith and Collin Smith; Joseph Smith and wife, Amy, and their daughter, Alexis Smith; her daughter, Brenda L. Smith-Jutting and husband, Curtis Jutting, and their two sons: Calvin T. Jutting and Kayla with son Landon; Brock A. Jutting; a sister, Donna R. Vorhes-Crooks of Charles City; and several other family members consisting of uncles, aunts, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Betty M. Vorhes-Smith had four children, nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Doyle Edgar Vorhes, Lorraine Veonne Ackley-Vorhes-Ripley; stepfather, Max Ripley; her mother and father-in-law, George Clifford (G.C.) Smith and Henrietta Alice Fink-Smith; one brother, Dean (Pete) Vorhes; and one sister, Patricia (Pat) Vorhes-Barnes. She will be missed by family and friends.

Pallbearers are grandchildren, George C. Smith III, James D. Smith, Joseph E. Smith, Justin Smith, Calvin T. Jutting, and Brock A. Jutting.

Betty enjoyed playing bingo and cards. She was a member of the Hampton Share and the Hampton Senior Center.

Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home, (641) 456-3232.

Gladys I. Hulshizer

NORTHWOOD — Gladys Irene (Gordon) Hulshizer,  93 years and 11 months, of Northwood passed away Wednesday (Sept. 7, 2005) at the Lutheran Retirement Home.  She fell Aug. 25 and broke her hip, which led to her failing health and death.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday at Deer Creek Lutheran Church in Carpenter with Pastor Lance Kittleson officiating. Burial will be in the Deer Creek Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home in Northwood and one hour prior to funeral services on Monday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests any memorials  be given to the Deer Creek Lutheran Church, the scholarship fund of the Lutheran Retirement Home, the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center, or the charity of your choice.

Gladys was born Oct. 11, 1911, to Ole and Nellie (Johnson) Gordon in “the little pink house on Archie Gordon’s place northwest of Carpenter,” as she always said. The family later moved to what she called her home place with the long lane just west of Carpenter.

She was baptized Nov. 26, 1911, and was confirmed on May 9, 1926, by the Rev. Olaf Langehough at the Deer Creek Church.

The Rev. Langehough also married Gladys and Warren (Pete) Hulshizer on Dec. 18, 1929. They started farming and lived on the same farm 50 years. They retired in 1973, but lived on the farm until 1980, when they moved to Northwood. In 1994, they moved from their house into Maple Court Apartments in Northwood.

Her husband passed away Oct. 4, 1995. Gladys lived in the apartment until April 3, 2001, when a stroke forced her to be moved to the Lutheran Retirement Home.

Her favorite poem was “Footprints” which helped comfort her during trying times. Gladys left us with many fond memories about her footprints along her life’s way.

She often mentioned how often she walked to Carpenter for groceries and often when she got home her Mom had forgotten to order something, so she would have to walk back again. She told how her family would walk across the fields to go to Sunday school and church. When she was older, she would walk west across the field to do housework for the Anderson brothers.

She helped her left-handed husband pick corn by hand and always said how awkward it was as she had to throw each ear in front of herself. Many folks commented about how much walking she and her husband did in Northwood to visit friends and go to congregate meals. She even walked the stairs instead of taking elevators because of her fear of elevators.

Gladys enjoyed all gardening, but especially strawberries and raspberries. She always kept her guard up for snakes, which she really disliked. Even after moving to Northwood she voluntarily went to the county nurse’s home to pick strawberries. She baked and shared lefsa and krum kake the year round. She missed her “lefsa flipper” after the death of her husband.

She crocheted until her eyes started failing. But her failing eyes didn’t diminish her love for playing cards. She was a great organizer to get everyone involved in card games. For several years, she and her husband had regular card parties at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center. They were long-time volunteers there, also helping with bingo and outings for their residents.

Throughout the years, we were amazed how she could play piano by ear, which she did even at her 90th birthday party. She was one of the few residents of the home who would play the organ in the chapel while secretly hoping nobody was listening.

Her church has always been an important part of her life. She served on various boards and was an active  circle member. The Lutheran Retirement Home nurses knew to hang her crosses and the picture of Jesus where she could see them while lying in bed.

Gladys was a very sociable and active home resident as she aimed to attend all activities. Whenever and as long as possible, she would always help other residents to get where they wanted to go.

Gladys was the eighth of 13 children and was only nine years old when her father passed away.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Nels, Anton, Arthur, and Roy; sisters, Alma Dumdei, Nora Anderson, Olga Hulshizer, Alice Olson, Clarice Arnold, Ruth Stickfort, Olive Purdy; and son-in-law, George Oakland.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughter, Marvyl Oakland, of St. Ansgar; her son, Marvin and his wife, Sandra, of Georgetown, Texas; grandchildren, Judy Shirley of Hudson, Iowa, Gary and his wife, Julie Oakland, of St. Ansgar, Scot and his wife, Amy Hulshizer, of Atlanta, Ga., and Monica and her husband, Will Koenig, of Austin, Texas. Also surviving are great-grandchildren, Jacob and Sadie Oakland and Joshua and Jenna Shirley; along with her brother, Lynn and wife, Beverly Gordon, of Carpenter; brother-in-law, LaVern Purdy, of Alden, Minn.; and brother-in-law, Dale and his wife, Lois Hulshizer, of St. Charles, Minn.; plus many nieces, nephews and friends.

Thanks be to God for her life with us.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, (641) 324-1121.

                   Posted by Gene Manning