Myrth Smith

July 11, 2012

Myrth Smith, 96, of Forest City, died on Saturday, June 2, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Society in Forest City.

Memorial services were held at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, June 23, at the First Congregational Church in Forest City, with Pastor Jon Rollefson officiating. Burial was in the Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City.

Myrth Smith, the daughter of Albert and Lillie (Lorentzen) Lundberg, was born on November 28, 1915, on the Fernwood farm southeast of Forest City. Myrth attended the rural Madison Township #1 School and graduated from the Forest City High School in 1935. She married Arvin Bunting in a union that lasted eight years. Myrth then began working for various hospitals as a certified nurse's aide. These included Buffalo Center, St. Olaf in Austin, Minnesota, Britt, Forest City, St. Ansgar and the Forest City Nursing Home. In addition, she was employed by many private individuals in their residences for home health and cleaning duties.

On May 16, 1983, she married E.E. Smith and they resided at the Smith family farm until Mr. Smith's death in May of 1993. Myrth lived at Town Square Apartments in Forest City until moving to the Good Samaritan Center in October of 2008. Myrth's labor of love for others involved making many quilts over her lifetime and gardening projects. Myrth was a Sunday School teacher and on the Board of Trustees for the First Congregational Church, as well as being active with the Ladies Fellowship there. She also served as the Noble Grand of the Forest City Rebekah Lodge.

Myrth is survived by a step-daughter, Lorraine Hoffman and her husband, Larry of Clear Lake; a sister-in-law, Darlene Lundberg of Forest City; three step-grandchildren, Scott (Amanda) Hoffman of Pleasantville, Wendy (Tom) Mills of Humboldt and Holly Hoffman of Clear Lake; several step-great-grandchildren; a cousin, Betty Whetstone of Mason City; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, E.E. Smith; an infant sister, Myrth; two brothers, Elmer (Frances) Lundberg and Milo Lundberg; and a sister, Leora (Henry) Smith.

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

Curtis Clark

June 20, 2012

Curtis Clark, 80, of Forest City, died on Friday, June 8, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, June 12, at the United Methodist Church in Forest City, with Pastor Jerald Swanberg officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Whittier, California at a later date. Visitation was held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Monday, June 11, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City and continued one hour prior to the services at the church.

Curtis R. Clark, was born on February 9, 1932 in Clear Lake, Iowa, the son of Milo and Nora (Kalmoe) Clark. He grew up in Britt and attended school there. He learned all about carpentry along with his father, Milo. Curtis moved to Waterloo, where he met Janice Fettkether. The couple were married on April 28, 1956 and to this union four children were born, Terri, Mike, Barb and Craig. Curtis and his family moved to California in 1963, settling in Monrovia. He worked side jobs as a carpenter then worked at Childrens' Hospital in Los Angeles. He then worked for the City of Arcadia, being named "Employee of the Year" twice before retiring in 1993. He later married Mary Clark and they made their home in Forest City.

Curtis enjoyed bowling with the Senior League. He loved to travel, do woodworking, listen to country and polka music and sing songs for fun. He treasured time spent with his family.

Curtis is survived by his wife, Mary Clark of Forest City; his children, Terri of West Covina, California, Barbara of Bloomington, Minnesota, Craig (Veronica) of La Verne, California, Sandra (Jack) of Forest City, David (Jamie) of Red Wing, Minnesota, Steve of Red Wing, Minnesota, Lori of Forest City and Chuck of Belmont; grandchildren, Jason, Jeff, Jonathan, Micheal, Erin, Danielle, Ashley, Allysa, Brian, Christopher, Andrew and Jonathan; great-grandchildren, Sienna, Braden and Cutler; brothers, Doug (Jan), Robert (Judy), Loren, Ken (Bev); a sister, Betty and her husband, Bill. Curtis is also survived by his four-legged friends, Molly and Annie, who will miss him very much.

Curtis was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janice; son, Mike; and brothers, Frank and Dennis.

"We love you, Curt.....keep smiling!"

The family encourages memorial be directed to the United Methodist Church or to the Hospice of North Iowa.

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

Phyllis Luther Rogness

June 20, 2012

Phyllis Luther Rogness, 78, of Forest City, died on Monday, June 11, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.

A Memorial service was held at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, June 13, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Pastor Greg Anderson officiating. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery in Forest City. There was no visitation, per her request, her body has been cremated.

Phyllis Irene Luther, was born in Mason City, Iowa on January 16, 1934, the daughter of Kleo and Lois (Davis) Luther. She graduated from the Mason City High School in the Class of 1952. She was united in marriage to Lester Rogness on January 16, 1954. The couple made their home on a farm near Miller, for several years. In 1967, the family moved to Forest City. Phyllis began working in the accounting field at the John Thompson Agency in Forest City and after several years took a position at Eymann's Implement. Soon after, she began her own business, "1040 etc" on Clark Street in downtown Forest City.

She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. She loved to read and enjoyed sewing and genealogy.

In 1992, Phyllis moved to Sacramento, California. She returned often to visit family and friends and conduct business. She returned to Forest City in August of 2011 and made her home at the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City.

Phyllis is survived by her daughters, Diane Rogness of Coralville, Maralyn Anderson of Forest City and Suzie Mead of Mason City; grandchildren, Tim, Frank, Eric, Stephanie, Cassondra, Rob, Brent and Dan; and her great-grandchildren, Brynn, Gavin, Elijah and Grace.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lester; a daughter, Ellen; a son, Mervin; and brothers, Jim and Don.

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

Emery J. Rognehaugh

June 20, 2012

Emery Joe Rognehaugh, 82, of Forest City, Iowa, died on Friday, June 15, 2012, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital, Britt.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, June 23, at the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church, Forest City, with Rev. Robert Snitzer officiating. Family suggests memorials to the Pilot Knob Memorial Fund, Forest City, Iowa.

Emery Joe Rognehaugh, was born on June 25, 1929 Thompson, the son of Nels. and Ruth (Sunnoe) Rognehaugh. He graduated from the Thompson High School in 1947. He served briefly in the U.S. Marine Corp. He was a favorite young race driver of the dirt ovals with track records in many of the local Iowa and northern Minnesota tracks before his love for Charlotte Nuzum from Winterset encouraged him to retire his silk shirts on Independence Day, just prior to their marriage on July 12, 1952, which would have been 60 years this year. Raising their family near Buffalo Center, Emery Joe and Charlotte raised three children, Aaron, Richard, and Naomi. Emery Joe was an optimist that loved life and also committed his life-hereafter with an active faith in God.

He remained behind the corn and soy bean planter until his 80th birthday, and many in this area have witnessed some of the straightest rows in Winnebago County with his hands on the wheel. He also excelled in a wide variety of career highlights after farming, as a result of his love for people and his understanding of sales and marketing.

Emery Joe is survived by his wife, Charlotte Rognehaugh of Forest City; two children, Richard (Jacqulin) Rognehaugh of Nashville, Tennessee and Naomi (Rob) Strano of Niceville, Florida; five grandchildren, Steven Strano, Tennyson Strano, Wade Rognehaugh, Sondra Rognehaugh and Alexis Rognehaugh; and two sisters, Nola Rae Hughes, Penrose Colorado and Darlene (Dick) Maxson, Colorado Springs, Colo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Rowine Miller; and a son, Emery Aaron Rognehaugh.

The Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, was in charge of the arrangements.

Florene L. Stolk

June 20, 2012

Florene L. Stolk, 98, of Forest City, died on Friday, June 15, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., on Tuesday, June 19, at the United Methodist Church in Forest City, with Pastor Jerald Swanberg officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Lake Wilson, Minnesota. Visitation was from 5-7:00 p.m., on Monday, June 18, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Florene "Flo" Loretta Stolk, was born in Ceylon, Minnesota on June 29, 1913, to Swedish immigrants Carl and Lucy (Hefinsky) Brandt. She was the oldest of three daughters. As a young girl, she and her sisters were separated and Flo was sent to live with a family near Lake Wilson, Minnesota. She was educated through the eighth grade and was trained to be a switchboard operator for the telephone company in Lake Wilson. In April of 1936, she married Vernon Fowser and they made their home in Lake Wilson. To this union was born one son, Robert Vernon. In June of 1940, Vernon died. Flo and her young son moved to Sherburn, Minnesota in 1946, where she married Henry (Hank) Stolk. The family resided on a farm south of Sherburn until Hank's death in 1959.

Flo then moved to Laurens, where she worked as a bookkeeper at the Farmer's Co-Op Elevator. In 1972, she moved to Forest City where she resided until her death. She worked at Fowser's Jewelry and always enjoyed meeting and visiting with customers. When Fowser's Jewelry closed in 1987, she continued to "patrol" the streets and chat with people. The last three years of her life she was a resident of Forest Plaza.

Flo always enjoyed being with people. When she was on the farm in Sherburn, the coffeepot was always on and there were homemade goodies to share when friends and neighbors dropped in. Her two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren were a source of joy to her and she treasured times with family. She liked to crochet and made many beautiful afghans. Flo was always ready when friends invited her to go shopping or out for lunch. "I can always dust my furniture later" she would say. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Minnesota and a member of the United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her son, Robert (Karen) of Ames; granddaughter, Amy (Rick) Grunhovd of Forest City and grandson, Scott (Mary) Fowser of Ankeny; and four great-grandchildren, Molly Grunhovd of Humboldt, Alex Grunhovd of West Des Moines, Ivy Grunhovd of Forest City and Madeline Fowser of Ankeny.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her two sisters, Gladys and Irene; her husbands, Vernon in 1940 and Henry in 1959.

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

Randy L. Redinger

July 11, 2012

Randy L. Redinger, RPh, 62, of Lake Mills, died unexpectedly on Father's Day, Sunday, June 17, 2012, at his home in Lake Mills.

A memorial service was held at 1:00 p.m., on Thursday, June 21, at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Lake Mills, with the Rev. Jerry Robertson officiating. A private inurnment took place in the Sunnyside Cemetery in Lake Mills. Visitation was on Wednesday, June 20, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills and continued one hour prior to the services at the church on Thursday. Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, Hospice of North Iowa or to the donor’s choice.

Randy Lee Redinger, was born on November 5, 1949 in Clarinda, Iowa, the son of Kenneth Marlin and Charlene Merle (Cook) Redinger. Randy grew up in Shenandoah and Coin, Iowa and graduated from the South Page High School in 1968. He pitched one season of Minor League Baseball in Washington state. He then attended Iowa Western Community College in Clarinda, Iowa and graduated in 1970 with highest honors. Randy was united in marriage with Eileen Lucile Oster on January 17, 1970, in the Church of Christ in Elliott, Iowa, (Eileen's church) by Rev. William Tomlinson (Randy's Methodist minister). Randy continued his education at Drake University's College of Pharmacy, graduating in 1974 and adding RPh to his name as a Registered Pharmacist. Randy, Eileen, and their son, Aaron moved to Lake Mills and remained there for the rest of his life, other than many vacations with friends and relatives. Randy purchased Nerby Drug, changed the name to Redinger Drug, and later sold it to his son, Aaron, but continued working there.

His greatest joys were his grandchildren, travelling with family and friends, golfing, and video poker at the casino.

Survivors include his mother, Charlene Redinger of Lake Mills; his wife, Eileen Redinger of Lake Mills; 3 sons, Aaron Redinger and wife, Shanan of Hanlontown, Eric Redinger and wife, Jen of Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Graham Redinger of Lake Mills; 4 grandchildren, Samuel and Isabel Redinger of Hanlontown, Brennan and Peyton Redinger of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; 2 brothers-in-law, Evan Oster and wife, JoAnn of West Des Moines and Edward Oster and wife, Donna of Elliott, Iowa; and many other relatives and friends.

Randy was preceded in death by his father; and a son, Adrian Redinger in 1978.

The Mittelstadt Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

David Samuelson

July 11, 2012

Reverend David Samuelson, 84, of Forest City, died on Monday, June 18, 2012, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

As per his wishes, his body has been cremated and there was no visitation. Memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, June 22, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Pastor Greg Anderson officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter.

David was born on October 23, 1927 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The son of David and Selma Arneson Samuelson, David graduated from the Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis in 1946. He attended the University of Minnesota for one quarter and then enlisted in the Army. He served in the 245th Army Ground Force band in Rome, Italy. David graduated from the University of Minnesota and then attended Luther Seminary and was ordained a Minister of the Lutheran Church. David served at several churches throughout the Midwest.

David enjoyed spending time with his wife and family, a good visit, a good laugh, thought provoking books, crossword puzzles, carving wood, being in plays, learning new technology on the computer, fossil hunting, clarinet and most of all sharing the Good News of Jesus.

David is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Marilyn; his children, Paul Samuelson of Lincoln, Nebraska, Karl Samuelson of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Joel Samuelson of Lincoln, Nebraska, Gloria Doyle of Waukee and Laura (Dewayne) McGohan of Ankeny; son-in-law, Kurt Miller of St Louis Park, Minnesota; seven grandchildren, Nichole (Hunter) Flodman, Matthew (Jenna) Samuelson, Ian Miller, Andrew Samuelson, Ingrid Miller, Erin McGohan and Claire McGohan; and two great-grandchildren, Ethan and Nolan Samuelson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Selma Samuelson; daughter, Cynthia Miller; granddaughter, Hannah Doyle; twin brother, Donald Samuelson; sister, Shirley Samuelson; and son-in-law, Brian Doyle.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to the Good Samaritan Home of Forest City or directly to Parkinson Disease research.

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

Donald W. Berhow

July 11, 2012

Donald Wayne Berhow, 83, of Buffalo Center, died on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at his home surrounded by his family.

Services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, June 22, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center, with Pastor Perry Aalgaard officiating. Burial was in the Olena Mound Cemetery. Visitation was on Thursday, June 21, from 5-8:00 p.m., at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center. The Winter Funeral Home in Buffalo Center, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Donald Wayne Berhow, son of Roy and Annie (Lamping) Berhow, was born on April 26, 1929 in rural Winnebago County, Iowa. On November 2, 1949, he was united in marriage to Myrtle Jean Weaver at the First Congregational Church in Buffalo Center. Don was a lifetime resident of Winnebago County in the Buffalo Center/Thompson area. After retiring from farming in 1995, they moved into Buffalo Center where they have resided since.

Don greatly enjoyed life, playing cards and spending time with friends and family. Never having children, Don's brothers, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces and nephews were his family. Don was a very avid fisherman and spent a lot of time fishing with friends and family in Minnesota, South Dakota and Canada. For several years, the five brothers and step-dad, Clarence Olson, spent time in Canada fishing and having a good time. Later it was the five brothers and a nephew that went to Canada together.

Don is survived by his brothers, Randy and Mary Berhow of Watertown, Minnesota and Jim of Ames; his special caregiver, Linda Berhow of Miller; brother-in-law, Gary and Alice Weaver of Palm Bay, Florida; two sisters- in-law, Zella and Dustin Mirick of Eagan, Minnesota and Verna Jean Ewert of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and a host of nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Myrt; brothers, Cleo, Robert "Bob" and Tom; sister, Shirley; and brother-in-law, Calvin Wilson.