Hubert Bang

August 12, 2003

Hubert Bang, 90, of Mason City and formerly of Joice, died on Tuesday, August 5, 2003, at the USA Health Care in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Friday, at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Kensett, with Rev. Selmer G. Hernes officiating. Burial was in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, rural Joice. The Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood, was in charge of the arrangements.

Hubert Parnell Bang, was born on September 11, 1912 in Joice, the son of John H. and Oline (Larson) Bang. He was baptized in the Concordia Lutheran Church, Joice and reaffirmed the faith of his baptism through confirmation in the Bethany Lutheran Church in Joice. He was a graduate of the Lake Mills High School, Waldorf Junior College in Forest City and of Luther College in Decorah in 1936. On June 29, 1941, he married Doris Elaine Matthews in Lily, South Dakota. She preceded him in death on April 16, 1997. After their marriage they owned and operated Bang's Hardware in Kensett for 56 years, until their retirement in 1994.

He was an active member of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Kensett and was involved with numerous church and civic organizations. Mr. Bang served on the board of directors at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, was elected to the Kensett School Board and was elected to the Board of Supervisors in Worth County for 14 years, until his retirement from that position.

Survivors include his daughter, Janet Swenson and her husband, Mike of Rake, Iowa; a son, Roger Bang and his wife, Peggy of Mason City; two grandchildren, Kate Swenson of Decorah and Tom Swenson of Rake; sisters-in-law, June Bang of Melbourne, Florida, Fern Glynn and her husband, Arthur of Natick, Massachusetts and Merle Berkland of Minnetonka, Minnesota; a brother-in-law, Joe Matthews and his wife, Sylvia of Lily, South Dakota; and many nieces and nephews as well as other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Doris Bang; sister, Marjorie Pals; brother, Donovan Bang; three brothers-in-law, Harold Pals, Erling Berkland and Frank James; and a sister-in-law, Pearl James.
© Northwood Anchor 2003

Glen W. Yates

August 19, 2003

Glen William Yates, 97, died on Tuesday, August 12, 2003, at Ankeny.

Memorial services were held on Saturday, at the First United Methodist Church in Ankeny. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Estherville, Iowa, at a later date.

He was born in Carroll County, Iowa, in 1905 and lived there and in Emmett County with his family until 1934. He then received an appointment as Deputy Game Warden in the Fish and Game Division, which later became part of the Iowa Conservation Commission. From that point on, he dedicated himself to the advancement of conservation issues in the State of Iowa. He was assigned to Worth County in the late ‘30’s and early ‘40’s. In 1949, he was promoted to the position of Federal Aid Coordinator and moved to the Des Moines office.

Through various promotions, Yates initiated and oversaw the acquisition and restoration of 55,000 acres of Iowa marshland, for which he received many awards, including the Coordinator’s Service Award from the U.S. Bureau of Sports and Wildlife. He was also elected to the Iowa Conservation Hall of Fame. He worked with both state and federal conservation efforts until his retirement in December of 1973. He was an accomplished hunter and fisherman whose expertise was sought by many, including governors, authors and other enthusiasts.

He was a 50 year member of the West Gate Masonic Lodge No. 661, the Ascalon Chapter No. 139 of the Royal Arch Masons and the United Methodist Church. He had lived on his farm with his beloved wife of 72 years, Ruth Ella.

Survivors besides his wife include two sons, Ronald Lee of Woodbine, Maryland and Steven Kenneth of Roanoke, Virginia; daughter, Janice Y. White of Cape Cod, Massachusetts; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
© Northwood Anchor 2003

Ernest Gerald Singelstad

October 7, 2003

Ernest Gerald Singelstad, 87, died at Longhouse Resident, on Tuesday, August 12, 2003.

Ernest, the son of Andrew and Helen Thovson Singelstad, was born on May 11, 1916 in Northwood, Iowa. He received his early education and graduated from the Northwood High School. He later attended mechanical school in California. He was confirmed at the Northwood Lutheran Church on May 10, 1931. In his younger years, he worked with his father doing carpenter work. He continued this occupation, building many homes in Spencer and in his later years remodeling homes in Terril. He married Beulah Carroll on May 12, 1946 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. During the first years of his marriage, they lived in Spencer, where he owned the Spencer Cycle Shop and sold Harley-Davidson motorcycles. He enjoyed racing and hill climbing.

In 1957, they moved to a farm by Langdon, where they farmed until 1973, when they moved to Terril. He worked in lumber yards and remodeled homes in Terril, until his retirement. He was an active member of the Immanuel Lutheran church, serving on the Parsonage Building Committee and serving as trustee and elder. He also enjoyed being on the Terril city council and was a former mayor of Terril. Ernie also enjoyed his family and all the family get-togethers. He attended many of his daughter's school activities and this continued with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting.

Survivors include his wife, Beulah of Terril; four daughters, JoAnne and her husband, Ervin Harders of Hartley, Joyce Freeman of Statesville, North Carolina, Jolene and her husband, Douglas Lang of Belle Plaine, Iowa and Julie and her husband, Thomas Angus of Burt, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Erma Chantland of Ft. Dodge, Iowa; nieces, Mrs. Alan Stevens of Northwood and Mrs. Harley Lehman Jr. of Webster City, Iowa; and nephews and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Harlan and Irvin Singelstad; and one sister, Mildred Olson.
© Northwood Anchor 2003

Esther H. Meyer

August 19, 2003

Esther H. Meyer, 93, of Mason City, died on Wednesday, August 13, 2003, at the USA Healthcare Center, Mason City.

Her funeral was held on Saturday, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner, with the Rev. Robert Bronson officiating. Burial was in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.

Esther Helena Meyer, the daughter of Herman and Adeline (Greinke) Lemke was born on November 27, 1909 on a farm near Garner. She was baptized on September 11, 1910 and confirmed on June 1, 1924. Esther attended the rural schools of Hancock County. On May 24, 1928, she was married to Harry E. Meyer at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner. They farmed southeast of Garner until they retired in 1966 and moved to Mason City. Esther and Harry spent many of their winters vacationing in California.

Esther loved company and was always serving food and enjoyed giving her guests some of her crochet handiwork. She was a life-long member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner.

She is survived by two sons, Dale (Shirley) Meyer of Kensett and Dean (Mardine) Meyer of Kensett; a daughter-in-law, Shirley Meyer of Rancho Cucamonga, California; a sister, Ruth Katter of Clear Lake; grandchildren, Rodger Maynes, Dan (Carol) Meyer, Sue Meyer, Ron (Terri) Meyer, Jeanine (Joe) Mistretta, Randy (Rhonda) Meyer, Tom (Malissa) Meyer, Dennis (Kathy) Meyer, Barb (Lyle) Jass, Janet (Dave) Solberg, Doug (Pam) Meyer and Sandy (Dave) Smith; great-grandchildren, Jon, Erin and Ryan Maynes, Michelle and (Larry) Washington, Mike and (Michelle) Meyer, Christy (Ken) Manaway, Jesseca (Denver) Coulter, Allison (Ruben) Ruiz, Julie Meyer, Rhianon, Morgan and Anthony Mistretta, Amanda, Corey and Colten Meyer, Ryan, Travis and Kristen Meyer, Ben (Morgan) Jass, Betsy Jass, Shannon, Shane and Jeremy (Gina) Solberg and Melissa, Nicole and Courtney Meyer, Connor and Sierra Smith; great-great-grandchildren, Stevonte Mosley, Katherine Meyer, Kaitlyn and Kyle Washington.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Meyer on July 8, 1994; her son, Donald Meyer; a granddaughter, Linda Maynes; her parents; two sisters, Lisa Haes and Martha Heimendinger; and two brothers, Otto Lemke and Paul Lemke.
© Northwood Anchor 2003

Marlene Miller

September 9, 2003

Marlene Miller, of Whittier, California, died on Wednesday, August 13, 2003, at the Presbyterian Hospital in Whittier, California.

Memorial services were held at the Calvary Chapel of Downey where she attended church and worked. Pastor Rudy Cardenas officiated. She was buried next to her mother, Merle Hove in the El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, California.

Marlene was the daughter of Orville and Merle Hove of Northwood. She graduated from the Northwood High School in 1953. She attended the LaJames Beauty College where she graduated in 1953. While in college she met Ivan Miller of Mason City, Iowa. They were married on September 19, 1954. Ivan was still in the Navy, so they went back to Long Beach until he got out of the Navy. Then they moved back to Iowa where Marlene worked as a beautician. Then they moved back to California. She worked at Cal State Long Beach in Long Beach, California for 15 years, then went to work for the Calvary Chapel of Downey, where she worked for nine years in day care. She loved to work with kids of all ages and was well liked by all.

Survivors include her husband, Ivan Miller of Whittier, California; three sons, Kerry and wife, Peggy of LaMirada, California, Tim of Aguanga, California and Dirk of Whittier, California; sisters, Donna and husband, Bill Weber of Glenville, Minnesota, Cathy and husband, Monty Mongtane of El Cajon, California and Debbie and husband, John Lutz of El Cajon, California; brothers, Orville Jr. "Bud" Hove of Spring Valley, California and Chuck and Karen Hove of Northwood; sister-in-law, Barbara Hove; and nine grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Orville and Merle Hove; and brother, Larry Hove.
© Northwood Anchor 2003

Arnold Ingvald Thompson

August 19, 2003

Arnold Ingvald Thompson, 87, of rural Northwood, died on Monday, August 18, 2003, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, where he had been a resident since February of this year.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, August 21, at the First Lutheran Church, Northwood, with Rev. Paul Holmer officiating. Burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood and one hour prior to the service time on Thursday, at the church. The family of Arnold Ingvald Thompson has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Northwood Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Unit in his memory.

Arnold Ingvald Thompson, was born on August 29, 1915 in rural Silver Lake Township, rural Northwood, the son of Jewell Martin and Inger (Haugerud) Thompson. He was baptized in the Lutheran faith at the Silver Lake Lutheran Church, rural Northwood and reaffirmed the faith of his baptism through confirmation at the Shell Rock Lutheran Church, rural Northwood. Arnold farmed with his father on the home farm west of Northwood until his father's death in 1948. He cared for his mother the last several years of her life until she died in 1966. After his father's death he continued to farm the family farm until his retirement in 1978.

Arnold loved being outdoors, taking care of his land, his dog Pepper and enjoyed entertaining those close to him on his harmonica. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Northwood.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Berneice Branstad of Northwood; two brothers, Jewell O. Thompson and his wife, Lillian of Albert Lea, Minnesota and Clifford Thompson and his wife, Harriet of Scottsdale, Arizona; two special nephews, Judean "Geno" Thompson and Gary Thompson, of Albert Lea, Minnesota; many other nieces and nephews, friends and longtime neighbors and extended family of Branstad's, and a special friend, Dennis Nagle of Northwood.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Glen Thompson.
© Northwood Anchor 2003

Deloris Reyerson

August 26, 2003

Deloris Reyerson, 64, of rural Northwood, died on Friday, August 22, 2003, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, after a brief illness from cancer.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, at the Silver Lake Lutheran Church, rural Northwood, with Rev. Tom Hagen officiating. Burial was in the Silver Lake Lutheran Cemetery.

Deloris Reyerson, daughter of Oliver and Violet (Schroeder) Herfindahl, was born on March 4, 1939 in Nunda Township, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at the Lunder Lutheran Church in Twin Lakes, Minnesota. She graduated from the Albert Lea High School in 1956. On April 13, 1957, she married Roger Reyerson. Deloris was a homemaker and enjoyed crafts, antiques and most recently, worked at the Albert Lea Art Center.

Survivors include three sons, Ray Reyerson, Keith and his wife, Kathy Reyerson and Paul Reyerson, all of Emmons; grandchildren, Daniel and his wife, Dawn Peterson of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Angela Peterson of Eagan, Minnesota, Amanda Reyerson, Mitchell Reyerson, Christopher Reyerson, of Emmons and Kerri Reyerson of Jackson; one great-grandson, Gavin Peterson; step-grandchildren, Travis Lawson and Amy Foran, of Emmons; one sister, Bev and her husband, Wayne Indrelie of Albert Lea; two nephews, Ken and Anne Indrelie of Little Canada, Minnesota and Rick and Judy Indrelie of Rochester; and two special friends, Terry Dahlby and Myrtle Hauge.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents; her parents; her husband, Roger; her son, Larry; and several aunts and uncles.
© Northwood Anchor 2003

Frank Valasek

August 26, 2003

Frank Valasek, 89, of Northwood, died on Saturday, August 23, 2003, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, at the Lutheran Retirement Home Chapel, Northwood, with Rev. Allen Stoa officiating. Burial was in the Osage Cemetery. The Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood, was in charge of the arrangements.

Frank was born on June 12, 1914 in Alexandria, Minnesota, the oldest of five children of Tony and Appolena (Smysik) Valasek. The family moved to the Mitchell, Iowa area when Frank was a child, where he attended country school near St. Ansgar and Mitchell. He began farming at an early age using an eight-horse, 14-inch, tandem disk. With a horse-drawn plow, he farmed 80 acres. In 1930, Frank bought his first Hart-Parr tractor to begin farming 1,000 acres. He farmed and raised cattle all his life.

Frank would never wash his pickup truck, saying the rain would do that for him. He was an excellent cook who loved to bake pies. He also enjoyed traveling to places like Montana and spending time with his dog, Reno. Frank moved to the Lutheran Retirement Home in 1998 where he enjoyed reading the newspaper, watching TV, bowling, being a part of the Men’s Group and joking around with “His Girls” at the retirement home.

Frank is survived by his brother, William Valasek and his wife, Norma of Osage; three nieces; two nephews; two great-nieces and two great-nephews. He will be sadly missed by Nancy, Dave, Tony, Carol, “His Girls” at the retirement home and his special friends, Harvey Ackerman, John Springer and Jenna, Jacina and Jalisa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and several siblings.
© Northwood Anchor 2003

LeRoy H. “Hiney” Weitzel

August 26, 2003

LeRoy H. "Hiney" Weitzel, 65, of Mason City, died on Monday, August 25, 2003, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, August 27, at the Bethel United Methodist Church in Manly, with Rev. Robert Cumings officiating. Burial will be in the Manly Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will be from 4-7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, at the Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City and one hour prior to the service time on Wednesday at the church.

LeRoy H. "Hiney" Weitzel, was born on February 24, 1938 in Belmond, Iowa the son of Omie Weitzel. He attended and received his education in the Mason City School System. In February of 1955, he was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corp. and was attached to the First Marine Aircraft Wing and served in various areas in the South Pacific until his honorable discharge as PFC in March 1959. After his honorable discharge, LeRoy came back to the Mason City area and was married to Darlene Tietz on July 16, 1960 in Manly. LeRoy worked for Jacob E. Decker & Son, International Minerals and Crystal Sugar, and also attended N.I.A.C.C. in Mason City, where he received his education in plumbing, air conditioning and heating. After completing his education at N.I.A.C.C. he worked for James Refrigeration, George Black Plumbing and Heating and for the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa for 22 years until his retirement in 2000.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Darlene Weitzel of Mason City; two sons, Garvin L. Weitzel and his wife, Helen of Burlington, Iowa and Mark A. Weitzel and his wife, Kelly of Wylie, Texas; two grandchildren; four brothers, Larry Smith, Ronnie Smith and his wife, Linda, Kenny Smith, David Smith, all of Mason City; four sisters, Beverly Lybarger of Kensett, Donna Smith of Mason City, Marilyn Sporing and her husband, Chuck of Kensett and Carolyn Pedelty and her husband, Marty of Mason City; two special cousins, Garvin Ward Jr. and Mary Margaret Graf, both of Mason City; as well as many nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Omie Weitzel; step-father, Roy Smith; maternal grandparents, Conrad and Elizabeth Weitzel; a brother, Richard Smith; and his father and mother-in-law, Richard and Edna Tietz.
© Northwood Anchor 2003

Dora Augusta (Wahl) Bentzin

September 2, 2003

Dora Augusta (Wahl) Bentzin, 97, formally of Manly, died on Saturday afternoon at the Good Shepherd Care Center in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, September 2, 2003, at the Bride Colonial Chapel, Manly, with Rev. Steven Waughtal, Chaplin at the Good Shepherd Care Center, officiating. Burial was in the Manly Cemetery.

Dora Augusta (Wahl) Bentzin, was born on December 21, 1905, the daughter of Fred and Ida (Gottschalk) Wahl in Grafton. She was baptized and reaffirmed the faith of her baptism through confirmation at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton. She attended and received her education in the Grafton School System. She married Gerhold C. Bentzin in September 1925, in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton and to this union was born a son, Arran.

Dora enjoyed fishing, going up north and gardening, but her great love and enjoyment was spending time with family.

Left to cherish her memory are her grandchildren, Gary Bentzin and his wife, Annette of Saline, Michigan, Bruce Bentzin and his wife, Jamia of Campbell, Minnesota and Carla Bentzin of Fergus Falls, Minnesota; special granddaughter-in-law, Jane Johannes of Mason City; six great-grandchildren, Jody Schulz, Chris Bentzin, Jeremy Bentzin, Laura Sellar, James Bentzin and Caitlin Bentzin; five great-great-grandchildren; as well as other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gerhold Bentzin in 1980; son and daughter-in-law, Arran and Viola (Schmidt) Bentzin; grandchildren, Michael Bentzin and Cynthia Bentzin; sister, Laura Johnson; brother, Walter Wahl; and many nieces and nephews.
© Northwood Anchor 2003