Sandra M. Boeckholt

December 14, 2011

Sandra Mae Boeckholt, 71, of Topeka, Kansas and formerly of Forest City, passed away on Friday, December 2, 2011.

A memorial service was held at 6:30 p.m., on Tuesday, December 6, at the Davidson Funeral Home in Topeka. The family received friends following the memorial service at the funeral home. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery in Buffalo Center, at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, December 8.

She was born on January 1, 1940 at Blue Earth, Minnesota, the daughter of Melvin and Pearl Twait Fjetland. She was raised in Iowa and graduated from high school at Forest City. She attended and graduated from nursing school in Mason City. Sandra married Robert Boeckholt in 1960 at Leland. They moved to Topeka in 1982. In Topeka, Sandra was a registered nurse working first at the St. Francis Hospital and later the VA Medical Center. She retired from the VA in 1999.

Survivors include her husband, Robert of the home; daughter, Brenda Sleep of Topeka; mother, Pearl Fjetland of Forest City; and three grandchildren, Douglas, Andrew and Cody.

She was preceded in death by her dad and a son, Brent, who passed away in 1981.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sandra Boeckholt Memorial Fund at the Envista Bank. To leave a message for the family, please visit www.davidsonfuneral.com

The Winter Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Buffalo Center, assisted the family with local arrangements.

Margaret E. Peterson

December 7, 2011

Margaret E. Peterson, 91, of Forest City, died on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Memorial services will be held at a later date in the spring of 2012. There will be no visitation. Inurnment will be held in the spring in the Madison Township Cemetery in rural Forest City.

The Petersen Lund Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Arthur B. Pederson

December 7, 2011

Arthur B. Pederson, age 84, of Kiester, Minnesota, died on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at the St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, December 9, at the Scarville Synod Lutheran Church in Scarville, with Pastor Thomas Rank officiating. Burial will take place in the Scarville Synod Lutheran Cemetery, rural Scarville. Visitation will be on Thursday, December 8, from 4-7:00 p.m., at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday.

Stanford Holtan

December 14, 2011

Stanford Holtan, age 90, of Forest City, died on Saturday, December 10, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, December 13, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Visitation was from 5-7:00 p.m., on Monday, December 12, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City and continued an hour prior to the services at the church. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery in Forest City, with Graveside Military Rites provided by the Forest City American Legion Post 121.

Stanford Holtan, was born in 1921, to Elmer and Sadie (Suby) Holtan. He was the eldest of four children. He spent the first few years of his life living on a farm three miles northeast of Leland. The family moved to his grandparent's farm for four years, then to a farm north of Hanlontown. The families have been connected to the Beaver Creek Church and the Winnebago Church.

Stanford graduated from the Hanlontown High School. After high school Stanford attended Waldorf College and St Olaf. It was at this time that his history started at Immanuel. He sang with the Waldorf Choir the day of the Procession from the old Immanuel Lutheran church to the new building in 1941. In 1942, Stanford enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was a flight engineer on a B-17. Stanford knew he was going to have a chance to go home, so he called Ruth on a Sunday and asked her how she felt about getting married the following week...June 25, 1944, right after D-Day. Following the war Ruth and Stanford purchased their farm north of Forest City along the Winnebago River.

Stanford sang in the church choir for almost 60 years. Stanford and Ruth raised their eight children and were active in church and continued to show their love of Waldorf College in many ways. Stanford has been active in Farm Bureau, the Republican Party and Sons Of Norway. In 2000, through their continued commitment to the community, they moved to Heritage Park and embarked upon a new adventure. Stanford has worked hard on the trolley, mowing and finding volunteers for the numerous projects. He said many times he was so pleased to be a part of preserving history for the years to come. Throughout his life he has been an artist in many different ways including painting, whittling, weaving, carving, welding, sculpting and music.

Stanford is survived by his wife, Ruth (Tweeten); his brother, Rolfe Holtan and his youngest sister, Dorothy Heller. Stanford and Ruth were blessed with eight children, Jerry, Audrey, Keith, Phil, Paul, Steve, John and Ron. The Holtans are the proud grandparents of 10 grandsons and 10 granddaughters and eight great-grandchildren. Jerry and Donna Holtan of Ames, son, Jason and Jennifer Holtan, Ames, and their sons, Zach, Tyler and Isaac. Audrey and Steve Olmstead of Minneapolis, Minn., daughter, Sue Anne and Tom Hadacek, Forest City, and their daughters Isabelle and Josephine, Audrey's daughter, Casey and Todd Sink, AR, and their daughters, Kylie and Lexi. Keith Holtan and his friend, Jacalyn of Minneapolis, Minn., son, Ross and Nina, DC, son, Grant and fiancée Brooke, NY, and daughter, Jackee and fiancee Matt,Minn. Rev. Phil and Merrie Sue Holtan, of Perham, Minn., daughter, Elise, Germany, son Mark and Haley, Minn., and daughter Johanna, Scotland.

Paul and Helen of Savage, Minn., son, Andrew and Sarah and baby Helena, WI, daughter Miranda, Minn, and son, Nicholas, Minn. Steve and Donna Holtan of Morris, Ill, daughter, Stephanie and Paul Weghorst, Ill., and daughter Samantha, Ill., John and Eileen Holtan of Love's Park, Ill., son, Luke, Wisc., son, Matt, FL, and daughter, Emily and Ben Abeyta, Wisc., Ron and Pam Holtan of Stanhope, daughter, Kristine and John Hodges, Bondurant, son Michael, Cedar Falls, and son Brandon and Amanda, Des Moines.

Stanford was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Sadie (Suby) Holtan; his younger sister, Ardith Halvorsen; his sister-in-law, Marietta (Ness) Holtan; and daughter-in-law, Linda Haugen Holtan (Paul).

The Petersen Lund Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Lois A. Anderson

December 28, 2011

Lois A. Anderson, age 86, of Forest City, died on Monday, December 12, 2011, at the Mercy Medical Center in Mason City.

Memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, December 15, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Visitation was held an hour prior to the services at the church. Inurnment was in the Clear Lake Cemetery in Clear Lake.

Lois was born on January 20, 1925, to George and Alma Lunn in Clear Lake. Lois graduated from the Clear Lake High School and then attended Luther College in Decorah, where she met Chester Porter. They were married in 1948 and to this union four children were born, Douglas Porter, Jeffrey Porter (Mavis), Gregory Porter (deceased) and Janelle Porter, along with 4 grandchildren, Jason Porter, Joshua Porter (Amy), James Porter and Andrew Green. After Chester's death in 1964 Lois met Wilfer Anderson and they were married in 1966. 　

She enjoyed gardening, knitting and cooking. She was very active in her church, Legion, bridge club and she sold Avon for over 40 years.

She added Wilfer's four daughters, Vicki Todd (Warren), Merdys Ingvoldstead (Paul), Judy Johnston (John) and Laurie Wittemayer-O'Neill (Terry); along with 11 grandchildren, Kristin Burton (Kyle), Bjorn (Loretta) and Nils Involdstead (Hadyn), Erika Ott (Andy), Ryan (Sara), Dane (Lisa), and Leif Johnston David (deceased) and Daniel Wittemayer (Kelly). She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren; and her brother, George Lunn Jr (Betty).

The Petersen Lund Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Pearl L. Smith

December 28, 2011

Pearl L. Smith, 91, of Woden, died on Monday, December 12, 2011, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, December 17, at the United Methodist Church in Buffalo Center, with Rev. Deb Devine officiating. Burial was in the Bingham Township Cemetery in Woden. The Cataldo Funeral Home in Woden, was in charge of the arrangements.

Pearl Lillian Smith, the daughter of Carl and Sena (Sabin) Tollagson, was born on September 28, 1920, on a farm near Buffalo Center. She attended rural school and graduated from the Buffalo Center High School in 1938. On April 1, 1938, she was married to Elmer Smith in Forest City. They lived in Woden all of their married life except when Elmer was in the service. Pearl was employed at the post office in Woden as Post Master for fourteen years and then as a rural route carrier for sixteen years, retiring in 1979. She was instrumental in helping build the Woden Post Office in 1960. In their retirement Pearl and Elmer spent their winters in Texas for many years. Pearl enjoyed card playing, visiting with friends and baking.

She was a member of the Buffalo Center United Methodist Church, was a former member of the United Methodist Church in Woden and belonged to the Woden American Legion Auxiliary.

Pearl is survived by nephews, Dennis (Joanne) Lunning of Woden, Wayne (Jeanne) Tollagson of Crystal Lake and David (Ila) Tollagson of Kiester, Minnesota; and nieces, Cheryl Hayes of Clarissa, Minnesota, Sharon Vrieze of Moore, South Carolina and Phyllis Hauen of Thompson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elmer on January 16, 2003; a sister, Edna Lunning; and six brothers, Clarence, Elmer, Joseph, Melvin, Clifford and Leonard Tollagson.

Nancy K. Monson

December 28, 2011

Nancy Kay (Steffensen) Monson, 63, departed to her heavenly home on Friday, December 16, 2011, from the St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, following a long struggle with cancer and other infections.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, December 21, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Burial was in the Salem Memorial Cemetery, rural Lake Mills. Visitation with her family was on Tuesday, December 20, from 4-7:00 p.m., at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills, and continued one hour prior to the services at the church on Wednesday.

Nancy Kay (Steffensen) Monson, was born on September 11, 1948, to DeVere and Clarine Steffensen of Leland. She was baptized, confirmed and married at the Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills. She graduated from the Lake Mills Community Schools in 1966. She earned her Associate of Arts from Waldorf College in Forest City and her Bachelors of Arts in Art Education from Mankato State University. Nancy was united in marriage to David C. Monson on July 29, 1972.

Nancy had a heart of gold. She was a loving, giving individual and was known as the listening ear to many of her colleagues at Forest Elementary School, where she taught elementary art for 26 years. Her Christian faith and caring spirit were apparent to all who knew her and came to her for support, as well as to the many students and parents whose lives she touched throughout the years.

Nancy was an avid quilter and cherished the time she spent with her quilting group friends and the couples Bible study group she and Dave belonged to for many years. Nancy’s hobbies included quilting, gardening, art in its many forms, music and singing, and the frequent family gatherings with the "Aunts of the Oval Table" and the entire family. In 1983, Nancy was selected as the Iowa Young Mother of the Year. She was active in 4-H both as a member and as a leader, as well as serving on county committees. Nancy and David served on the board of the New Horizons Adoption Agency.

Nancy leaves behind her faithful, loving husband, David; and two daughters, Anne Kristine and Kathleen (Katie) Elizabeth, both of Leland; her mother, Clarine Steffensen of Lake Mills; siblings, Lou Ann (Richard) Mikes of Ventura and Sanibel, Florida, Patricia (Curtis) Nelson of Northwood, Julie (Leigh) Foster of Boone, Rebecca (Larry) Hill of Thompson and DeRay (Karen) Steffensen of Goshen, Indiana; brother-in-law, Paul (Marilyn) Monson of Newell; and 9 nephews, 6 nieces and 17 great-nephews/nieces.

Nancy was preceded in death by her father, DeVere Steffensen; a nephew, Michael Nelson; grandparents; parents-in-law, Cynthia and Bert Monson; and brother-in-law, Gary Monson.

The Mittelstadt Funeral Home of Lake Mills, was in charge of the arrangements.

Rose Wieland

January 18, 2012

Rose Wieland, age 83, of Forest City, died on Thursday, December 29, 2011, at her home in Forest City.

As per her wishes, her body has been cremated.

A celebration of life was held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, January 6, 2012, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Pastor Unseth officiating. Burial will be held at a later date in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Mitchell. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the Hospice of North Iowa, Mason City.

Rose M. Wieland, was born at her parent's home on March 19, 1928, to Ervine and Charlotte (Michaelis) Weldin. The farm was located six miles north and three miles west of Osage. She attended eight years at a country school about two miles from home and graduated from the Mitchell High School in 1946. On July 18, 1946, she was united in marriage to Albert Wieland at the Methodist Church in Osage. They lived and worked on Fred Wieland's farm, renting there for eight years. In 1958, they purchased a farm near LeRoy, Minnesota and lived there until they sold the farm in 1968 and bought a home in Forest City.

Albert and Rose had the following six children, Luella Prsha, Albert Jr. "Butch" Wieland, Carolyn Burnworth, Roger Wieland, Kevin Wieland and Keith Wieland. Rose loved the Lord with all her heart, expressing that love through the music she enjoyed playing and singing. Bible study was held in her home for five years. Her church home was Trinity Lutheran in Forest City. Rose very much enjoyed volunteering at various places. In her home the door was always open, coffee on, treats available, and she was always happy to have friends drop by. Flower and vegetable gardening was a favorite past time of hers as she appreciated nature and all it offers, hearing sounds and surrounding beauty.

Left to cherish her in memory are her very special friend, Willie; her children, Lou (Phil) Prsha, Butch (Ann) Wieland, Carolyn Burnworth, Roger (Debbie) Wieland, Kevin Wieland, Keith Weiland; grandchildren, Ryan, Little Roger, Justin, Jackie, Angie, Madi, Joshua, Miah and Emily; great-grandchildren, Rylie, Addison, Presley, Ave Kay Rose, Jocelyn Paige and Nevaeh Logan; and a host of nieces and nephews and countless precious friends.

The Petersen Lund Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. The funeral home regrets the late publication of this obit.

Frederick Christian Langrock

January 4, 2012

Frederick Christian Langrock, 74, of Toeterville, died on Friday, December 30, 2011, in an automobile accident.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, January 6, at the St. Peter Lutheran Church, Toeterville, with the Rev. Lance Kittleson officiating and assisted by the Rev. Andrew Lindahl and Rev. Michael Olmsted from the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Austin, Minnesota.　Burial will be in the St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery, Toeterville.　Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar.

Frederick was born on July 21, 1937 in Toeterville, to Fred D. and Myrtella (Sampson) Langrock.　He graduated from the St. Ansgar High School, attended Wartburg College and received his Masters Degree in music from the University of Colorado. He taught music at several towns in Iowa, including Gilbert, Clarksville, Elkader, Wapse Valley and Forest City. He was excellent at his profession. He could pick up any instrument and play it.

After his retirement from teaching Forest City, he taught part-time music in a Christian school in Waterloo and filled in at St. Ansgar when needed. He also gave private lessons to several children on different band instruments including the guitar. He joined the New Horizon Band and would travel to Cedar Falls weekly for practice. During this time he also took care of his widowed mother until she had to go to the nursing home. He remodeled the old Toeterville Bank and made it into a gallery for his Aunt Atlanta Sampson’s art work. He did beautiful work framing and matting her many paintings. During the summer he would set up a tent and show her artwork at art fairs all over Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Frederick was truly an artist.

He was an avid bridge player and would play bridge in Austin and Cedar Falls, lots of times, two days a week. For the last five years his latest endeavor had been the music director at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin. He directed the choir and arranged other music for their services. He loved his home church at Toeterville, but he also loved Westminster. His faith was very important to him.　　

Frederick would often say "I’m too busy. I should do more traveling before I get to old to do it." He will continue to be busy arranging music for the Lord in Heaven and directing the Angel Choir.　

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother-in-law, Don Carroll.

Frederick is survived by his two sisters, Avis (Leo) Hanson of St. Ansgar and Audrey Carroll of Austin; and one brother, David (Linda) Langrock of Davenport; nieces, Lisa Hansen, Lori Johnson, Amy Langrock, Dawn Pyle and Lacy Langrock; nephews, Dennis Hanson, Lynn Carroll and Todd Carroll; and close friend, Sheryl Ehlke.

The community has lost a true artist and he will be missed by family and friends.

The　Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, is in charge of the arrangement

Eugene "Gene" Horswell

January 18, 2012

Eugene "Gene" Horswell, 91, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, died on Saturday, December 31, 2011, at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m., on Wednesday, January 4, at the United Methodist Church, Albert Lea, with the Rev. Tom Biatek officiating. Interment was in the Lakewood Cemetery, Albert Lea. Visitation was from 4-6:00 p.m., on Tuesday, January 3, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, Albert Lea and one hour prior to the services at the church. Memorials preferred to a charity of choice. To sign the guest book, go to www.bayviewfuneral.com

Eugene was born in 1920 in Harris, to John and Dindie Horswell. He graduated from the Harris High School. He married Geraldine "Jerry" Blom on July 27, 1947, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Gene was the owner and operator of the Horswell Potato Farms in northern Iowa. He started farming and specializing in growing potatoes while in high school at Harris, later expanding to Armstrong, Blairsburg and then to Thompson, where he and Jerry lived from 1953 to 1968. In 1948 Gene built an innovative potato harvester that dug and loaded potatoes into trucks, eliminating dirt and vines, putting an end to picking potatoes by hand. He also made specialized equipment for processing potatoes and was one of the first to wash and bag potatoes in small consumer-sized bags. He installed an irrigation system for the potato acres at Thompson. They sold the farming operation and moved to Fairmont, Minnesota in 1968 and Gene became a farm real estate broker. In 1974, they moved to Spring Green, Wisconsin, where Gene was manager of a new potato growing partnership, Circle Valley Farms. This required developing many irrigation wells and installing irrigation systems. This business grew potatoes for table, processing and exporting. Gene and Jerry moved to Albert Lea in 1996.

Gene obtained his pilot's license and owned a twin engine Piper Seneca which he enjoyed flying. He served on the Red Cross Board in Albert Lea for several years. He was a firm believer in Jesus Christ and a member of the United Methodist Church.

Gene is survived by his wife of 64 years, Geraldine; five children, Donna (Neil) Ward of Albert Lea, Ronald (Dian) Horswell of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Marla (Robert) Risner of Kansas City, Missouri, Harvey (Jill) Horswell of LaCanada, California and Connie Olsen of Crystal Lake, Illinois; six grandchildren, Clinton (Wendy) Hiatt, Martin Hiatt, Hilary (Joseph) Marcee, Scott Olsen, Kelly Garis and Tyler Horswell; and three great-grandchildren, Jackson, Bailey and Campbell Marcee.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Merle Horswell; son-in-law, Stephen Hiatt; and grandson, Bradley Olsen.

The Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, Albert Lea, was in charge of the arrangements.