Dorothy L. Faber
March 10, 1929 - December 2, 2012

Dorothy L. Faber, 83, of Forest City, died on Sunday, December 2, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, December 6, at the United Methodist Church in Forest City, with Pastor Jerald Swanberg officiating. Burial will be in the Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, December 5, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City and continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Dorothy L. Hesvik Faber, the daughter of Baard and Isobael (Ness) Hesvik, was born on March 10, 1929 on the family farm in Swea City, Iowa. Her family had settled in northwest Iowa after immigrating from Jonal, Norway in the early 1900's. Dorothy grew up on the farm, graduated from the Swea City High School and attended Waldorf College and Drake University. While studying education at Waldorf College, she met Donald Faber. They were married at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City on August 5, 1949. Dorothy taught elementary school for over 30 years in area schools until retiring in 1989.

An active member of her church and community, Dorothy was a member of the United Methodist Church in Forest City, the local PEO, and many local organizations.

Survivors include her children, Kathryn (David) Van Driel, Dennis (Nancy) Faber, Cynthia (Thomas) Mallinger and David (Donna) Faber; eight grandchildren, Cristin Van Driel, Timothy (Brooke) Faber, Thomas (Jennifer) Faber, Edward Faber, John (Kristin) Mallinger, Ann (Robert) Heeter, Samuel and Jacob Faber; and three great-grandchildren, Braden, Logan and Kennidy Faber.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; her parents; and her siblings.

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

Donna Nerem Miller
March 13, 1929 - December 3, 2012

Donna Irene Nerem Miller, age 83, of Forest City, died on Monday, December 3, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.

Her body was cremated and there will be no visitation. Memorial services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, December 10, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City.

Donna Irene Nerem Miller, was born near East Chain, Minnesota on March 13, 1929, to Irvin J. and Cleo Irene (Larson) Classon. The family moved to a farm near Fenton, Iowa and Donna grew up enjoying farm life and playing with her many cousins. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Donna graduated from the Seneca High School and attended Waldorf College, where she met Erwin S. Nerem. They were married on August 8, 1949 at the Blakjer Lutheran Church in Seneca and settled on the Nerem family farm at Forest City. To this union two children were born, Larry and Joleene.

Donna taught Sunday School and Bible School classes at Immanuel Lutheran while her children were growing up. She was a staunch advocate of citizens with mental disabilities, serving on committees at Regional, State and National levels. Donna enjoyed being with people and worked many years as a home health aide. She was an avid bowler, earning her first trophy in 1962 and continued bowling into her 80's. She participated in many State and National tournaments.
 
Erwin passed away on August 9, 2001. Two years later, Donna met and married David C. Miller of Renwick, Iowa. They enjoyed two years together, traveling and visiting family until David's death on August 9, 2005.

Donna is survived by her son, Larry Nerem of Clear Lake; daughter, Joleene (Steve) Hart of Savonburg, Kansas; five Hart grandchildren, Marcia of Columbia, Missouri, April of Lawrence, Kansas, Nathan (Lisa) of Overbrook, Kansas, Spencer of Neodesha, Kansas and Caitlyn of Chanute, Kansas; three great-granddaughters, Aubree, Caylee and Kairyn; and the whole Miller family.

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

Marjorie J. Jefson
June 18, 1923 - December 10, 2012

Marjorie J. Jefson, 89, of Forest City, died on Monday, December 10, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, December 15, at the United Methodist Church in Forest City, with Pastor Jerald Swanberg officiating. Burial will be in the Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Friday, December 14, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City and continue one hour prior to the services at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be directed to the charity of your choice, in Marjorie's name.

Marjorie June Zavitz Jefson, the daughter of Charles and Blanche (Davis) Zavitz, was born on June 18, 1923 in Scranton, Iowa. Marjorie grew up in Coon Rapids, Iowa, where her father was the Chief of Police. She attended Simpson College, receiving a degree in Primary Education on January 27, 1944. She moved to Forest City and began teaching at the elementary school. She met Myrle James Jefson and they were married in the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, on June 19, 1946. Marjorie later worked at Anderson Clothing and Forest Federal Saving and Loan, which became Pioneer Savings and Loan, all in Forest City.

She volunteered with many venues to include the Hospice of North Iowa in Mason City. Marjorie held many offices in several community organizations. She was the Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star in Forest City and the President of the 8th District, American Legion Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Rachel Circle of the United Methodist Women.

Survivors include her children, Monte (Pauline) Jefson and Mark (Jill) Jefson; two grandchildren, Aaron (Brittany) Jefson and Jacob Jefson; and one great-grandchild, Lea Jefson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Myrle; her parents; her siblings; and a grandchild, Ian.

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

Alice B. Larsen
August 15, 1919 - December 10, 2012

Alice Larsen, 93, of Fertile, died on Tuesday, December 10, 2012, at the Lake Mills Care Center in Lake Mills.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, December 15, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City, with Pastor David Halvorson of the Fertile Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in the North Prairie Cemetery in Scarville. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Friday, December 14, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City.

Alice B. Solomonson Larsen, the daughter of Louis and Inga (Kloster) Solomonson, was born on August 15, 1919, on her parents' home farm near Scarville. She attended country school and graduated from the Lake Mills High School. Alice attended Waldorf College. On June 29, 1941, she was united in marriage with Carl Larsen at the North Prairie Lutheran Church. In 1953, the couple moved to Fertile, where in 1958 they founded Larsen Plumbing and Heating. Alice worked for the business until her retirement in 1985.

Survivors include her daughter, Nancy (Dennis) Faber; grandsons, Timothy (Brooke) Faber of Charleston, South Carolina, Thomas (Jennifer) Faber of Clear Lake and Edward (Ted) Faber of Woodbridge, Illinois; three great-grandchildren, Braden, Logan and Kennidy Faber; and many nieces and nephews.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl; five brothers, Andrew, Ole, Carl and Leslie Solomonson and Ted Sydness; and three sisters, Nora Wagner, little Anna and Ann Gunderson.

Memorials may be designated in Alice's name to the Fertile Lutheran Church, Hospice of North Iowa or the Fertile Library.

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

Alvada T. Helvick
July 3, 1917 - December 13, 2012

Alvada Helvick, 95, of Forest City, recently of the Lake Mills Care Center, died on Thursday, December 13, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, December 17, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery in Forest City. There will be no visitation, per her wishes.

Alvada T. Helvick, was born on July 3, 1917 at the farm home of her parents, Luella and Henry Fosse. Alvada attended a one room schoolhouse through the eighth grade. She graduated from the Forest City High School in 1934 and Waldorf College in 1936. Alvada was united in marriage on August 26, 1936, to Garmon Helvick at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They farmed in the Forest City area for many years. In 1957, they moved to Bakersfield, California, where Alvada worked in a library. After moving back to Iowa, Alvada worked for Winnebago Industries in the Mail Department.

She has been a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church for many years. Her greatest love and enjoyment was getting together with her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Another great enjoyment of Alvada's was her love of music. She was a very accomplished piano player.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Sharon (Fred) Renshaw of Green Valley, Arizona and Laurel Hillis of Bakersfield, California; eleven grandchildren, Sheila (Tom) Harmon, James (Barbara) Renshaw, Jill (Kevin) Sheimo, Kristi (David) Hankins, John (Kim) Adkisson, Heidi (Ed) Hoefs, Rick (Marti) Helvick, Brandy Boyd, Kim Cottinack, Michael Helvick, and Shawn Helvick; 27 great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

She was in preceded in death by her husband, Garmon; and her sons, Franklin Helvick and Michael Helvick.

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

Arno M. Olson
October 4, 1915 - December 15, 2012

Arno M. Olson, 97, of rural Garner, entered his heavenly home on Saturday, December 15, 2012, at the Iowa City Mercy Hospital Hospice Care surrounded by his loving wife and family.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Wednesday, December 19, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Miller, with Rose Visser, lay pastor officiating. Burial will be in the Concord Township Cemetery in Garner. Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Faith Lutheran Church in Miller.

Arno Mervin Olson, the son of Louis and Emma (Anderson) Olson, was born at his family home northeast of Garner on October 4th, 1915. He attended the Ellington #8 Township School in Hancock County and graduated from the Garner High School in 1936. Arno learned at a young age about the value of hard work on the farm. Arno's life was full as he worked with his father on the family farm and took over full operation in 1968. His love of the land and animals encouraged him to be a lifelong farmer. On November 28th, 1943, he married Alma Joanne Rogness at the Miller Lutheran Church. Arno and Alma's marriage of 69 years was blessed with five children, Billy Lee, Karen Jane, Janet Ann, Sandra Kaye and Barbara Joan.

Arno's farming was not just a career, but a way of life from hitching up the horses to driving combines with computers. He knew well the definition of determination and hard work. His creativity and innovation proved successful in his work which involved crops, purebred Duroc boars, cattle, horses and fixing everything that was broken. He loved driving his truck while hauling anything from grain, livestock and furniture to apples, kids on a hayride and other requests. Arno was interested in progress concerning his community. He enjoyed leadership roles such as being president of the Miller Telephone Company for 38 years, church council and activities at Ellington Prairie and Faith Lutheran Churches, 4-H Club Leader, ASCS (40 years), Ventura State Bank Board of Directors and VP, Forest City Cow Palace (clerk for 50 years) and Ellington Township Clerk for many years. Music was a favorite activity throughout his life from playing his violin to dancing to big band and polka music with Alma at the Surf Ballroom. Piloting a Piper Cub was a highlight of his life.

Memories of Arno live on in the hearts of his wife, Alma of Iowa City; his five children son, Billy (Janeil) Olson of Garner and their four children, Tracy Seng, David (Aleigha) Olson, RaeLea (John) Saxton and Russell (Jennifer) Olson; daughter, Karen (John) Arthur of Coralville and their four children, Rodney (Stacey) Arthur, Christopher (Jimena) Arthur, Damon (Kelly) Arthur and Kjersten (Nicholas) Koenigs; daughter, Janet (Stanley) White of Iowa City and their three children, Betsy (Matthew) Platt, Rachel White and Nathan White; daughter, Sandra (Craig) Molander of St. Charles, Missouri and their three children, Bradley (Martha) Molander, Lindsey Molander and Kelsey (Scott) Hulett; daughter, Barbara (Scott) Harvey of Rosemount, Minnesota and their two children, Erin Harvey and Kristen Harvey; eleven great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Martin (Miriam) Rogness of Forest City; sister-in-law, Marie Jordahl of Enid, Oklahoma; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Arno was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Emma Olson; his sisters and their husbands, Marian (Sherwood) Pitkin and Bernice (Norman) Anderson; his brother and wife, Milo (Hulda) Olson and his brother, Norman Olson; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Thelma (Harvey) Mitchell, Lester (Phyllis) Rogness, Emmet (Evelyn) Rogness and Burnell Jordahl.

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

Elaine F. Beard
July 1, 1929 - December 17, 2012

Elaine F. Beard, 83, of Clear Lake, Iowa, died on Monday, December 17, 2012, at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, December 21, at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with Rev. Dennis Ganz officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, December 20, from 5–7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the services at Ward-Van Slyke. Interment will be in the Oakland Cemetery, Forest City. Memorials may be given to the V.F.W. Auxiliary in memory of Elaine Beard.

Elaine was born on July 1, 1929 on the family farm, rural Ventura, Hancock County, Iowa, the youngest of six children of Emil and Frances (Samuelson) Hagen. She graduated from the Ventura High School in 1946. Following high school, she worked at the A&P Grocery Store and Linn’s Dept. Store in Forest City. Elaine married Robert Hughes in 1953. They owned and operated the Lake Furniture Store in Clear Lake.
She worked for Carl Haas Insurance Agency in Clear Lake and later worked for the Cerro Gordo County Department of Human Services as a caseworker until she retired.

Elaine married Clarke Beard on February 12, 1984 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Elaine’s home on South Shore Drive was always open and welcoming to family and friends to enjoy. Friends and family were very important to her. Elaine enjoyed listening to the music of Daniel O’Donnell and attending his concerts with her friends. She was a fun loving generous person, great caregiver, who loved dancing at the Surf, playing cards at the V.F.W., shooting pool at Elly’s, singing and playing the piano and spending time at the lake on the pontoon boat. She had a quick wit and was always ready with a joke. To look at Elaine, was to always see her smile.

Elaine was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Forest City, Clear Lake V.F.W. Auxiliary and lifetime member of Elly’s pool group.

Elaine is survived by her three step-children, Julie (Ken) Konicek of Pinedale, Wyoming, Clarke (Becca) Beard of Marion and Christopher (Michiko) Beard of Clear Lake; nine step-grandchildren and one step great-grandchild; sister, Darlene (Herb) Alexander of Mason City; brother, Eldon (Rozella) Hagen of Forest City; and nineteen nieces and nephews.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Frieda Hagen; brothers, Charles and Donald Hagen; and husband, Clarke Beard in 2007.

The Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of the arrangements. ColonialChapels.com

Donald D. Olson
January 9, 1927 - December 27, 2012

Donald D. "Curly" Olson, age 85, of Forest City, died on Thursday, December 27, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Wednesday, January 2, 2013, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Inurnment will be in the Oakland Cemetery in Forest City. There will be no visitation. Family suggests memorials in Donald's name, be directed to the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Forest City Ambulance Service or the Hospice of North Iowa.

Donald D. Olson, the son of Harry and Bertha (Nissen) Olson, was born on January 9, 1927 on a farm near Forest City, where he lived until the family moved into Forest City. He attended the Forest City Schools, graduating in 1945. After a brief time of living and working in the Los Angeles, California area, he returned to Forest City where he lived all of his life. He worked for the Winnebago County Secondary Road Dept. most of his life, retiring in 1989 after 39 years of service. On September 30, 1955, Don married Kathryn Lovik. To this union two children were born, Nancy and Paul.

Don loved the game of golf, spending many "holy" Thursdays on the course with his foursome. He loved to watch the Minnesota Vikings, enjoyed gardening, watching TV until his eyesight failed and most of all, watching his grandkids in their activities, visiting with family and coffee with the Hardees group.

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn; daughter, Nancy; son, Paul and daughter-in-law, Cathy; and three grandchildren, Abby and Emily Olson, and Chet Anderson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Eugene and Marvin; sister, Dorothy and brother-in-law John Thompson; and nephew, David Thompson.

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