Ida M. Gillihan

June 8, 2005

Ida M. Gillihan, age 102, of Northwood, died on Saturday, June 4, 2005, at the Lutheran Retirement Home, in Northwood, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., today at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood, with Rev. Wendi Gillan officiating. The family greeted friends on Tuesday evening at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home. Interment will take place in the Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood.

Ida M. Gillihan, was born on November 9, 1902 in Ames, Iowa, to Isaac B. Thomas and Ursula M. (Oswald) Thomas. Ida lived in her own home until the age of 98 at which time she entered the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood. She enjoyed playing the organ. She also enjoyed going to the Senior Center everyday. Her pets meant a great deal to her.

Survivors include her two daughters, Joanne Johnson and her husband, Donald of Northwood and Rachel Crapser of Sheridan, Wyoming; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; two husbands; five step-children; and two brothers.
© Northwood Anchor 2005

Donald P. Dobel

June 15, 2005, Page 9

Donald P. Dobel, 80, of Manly, died on Tuesday, June 7, 2005, at the Heritage Care Center in Mason City, after a short illness.

A funeral service was held on Monday, June 13, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton, with the Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating. Burial was in the Grafton Cemetery. Visitation was on Sunday, June 12, at the Bride Colonial Chapel, Manly and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Donald Paul Dobel, was born on May 3, 1925 in Mason City, the son of Paul and Leona (Stickfort) Dobel. He was baptized on June 21, 1925, at the St. Paul Evangelical Church in Manly with his grandfathers, Ben Stickfort and Herman Dobel, serving as his sponsors. Donald was confirmed in 1941 at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton. He attended country grade school near his home in rural Manly and graduated from the Manly High School in 1948.

After graduation, Donald continued to work on the family farm. He was united in marriage to Verna Borchardt on February 12, 1950 at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton. Donald and Verna lived as the fourth generation on the family farm until 25 years ago when they moved to their present acreage. Farming was Donald's life as he enjoyed the outdoors working on the farm and milking cows. He also enjoyed restoring antique tractors and drove in many area parades.

The couple belonged to several card clubs and played cards with the same group of friends for 50 years on New Years Eve. Donald enjoyed a good polka or waltz and cherished visiting with friends. He was a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church. He served on the church council, was a Sunday School Teacher and also served as the Sunday School Superintendent for 43 years. Donald also served on the Manly Elevator Board for 12 years. In 1991, Donald received the Key to the City of Manly during Rail Road Ag Days.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Verna Dobel of Manly; two children, Karen Day and her husband, Larry of Mason City and Jim Dobel and his wife, Becky of Manly; four grandchildren, Chris Dobel and his fiancée, Jennifer Sohl of Ellsworth, Allison Day of Mason City, Scott Dobel of Manly and Amber Day of Mason City; his sister, Dorothy Coonrod of Northwood; as well as nieces and nephews, and many relatives and friends.
© Northwood Anchor 2005

Betty G. Cook

July 13, 2005, page 9

Betty G. Cook, 79, of Princeton, Minnesota, died on Friday, June 10, 2005, at the Fairview Northland Hospital, Princeton.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, June 14, at the Bethany Lutheran Church, Princeton, with interment in the Berry Cemetery, Princeton. The Rev. Robert A. Lawson officiated.

Betty Grace Bratrud, was born on June 21, 1925 at Northwood, the daughter of Mikkel and Frances (Van Hooser) Bratrud. She was raised and educated at Northwood. She married Clarence Vern Cook on June 2, 1941 at Bethany, Missouri. They lived in Northwood until 1956, when they moved. Her husband, Clarence, died in 1998. She moved to Princeton in 1999.

Survivors include seven children, Marian Jean (Gerald) DeGirolamo of San Francisco, Judy Kay Asp of Annandale, Dennis of De Smet, South Dakota, Debra (Daniel) Gilhoi of Lake Lillian, Minnesota, David (Wendi) of Princeton, Wendy Jo of St. Cloud and Douglas (Tammy) of Zimmerman; twelve grandchildren, Brandy, Todd, Kristi, Andrea, Lisa, Chris, Katie, Mike, Nathan, Derek, Travis and Alyssa; six great-grandchildren, Chad, Kayla, Mikhayla, Morgan, Kelsey and Keegan; and sister, Margie (Norman) Davis of Northwood.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mikkel and Frances Bratrud; her husband, Clarence; son-in-law, Edwin Asp; and two great-grandsons, Conner and Daniel; infant brother, Robert and brother, Arnold.
© Northwood Anchor 2005

Earl James Perry

June 15, 2005, Page 9

Earl James Perry, 74, of 410 East 7th Street, died on Saturday June 11, 2005, at the St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Thursday, June 16, at the Northwood United Methodist Church, with Reverend Wendi Gillian officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church. The Conner Colonial Chapel will be in charge of the arrangements. Burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood, with full military honors conducted by members of the Our Buddies VFW Post 6779. Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, Alexandria, Virginia.

Earl James Perry, was born on April 7, 1931 in Northwood, the son of Elmer and Crissy Jean (Brown) Perry. Earl attended elementary school in Northwood. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1947 and was honorably discharged in 1954. Earl worked for Water and Soil Conservation as a surveyor for 33 years in the Iowa and Nebraska areas.

Earl enjoyed golfing, rummage sales, going for every morning coffee at the Kaffee Hus in Albert Lea. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge, where he was secretary for several years, Elks Club, and VFW.

Earl is survived by his children, Cynthia Crowe of Ogallala, Nebraska and Rodney Perry; grandchildren, Rebecca and Scott Crowe; sisters, Lorraine Berg of Albert Lea, Ilene Shinn of Northwood, Ruth Perry; brothers, Gerald Perry of St. Paul and Lawrence (Yvonne) Perry of Kellogg, Minnesota; aunt, Oma Dahle of New Hope, Minnesota; special friend, Jan Dero of Albert Lea; along with many nieces and nephews.

Earl was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; and brothers, Dale and…
© Northwood Anchor 2005

Ancil Berg

August 10, 2005, page 9

Ancil Berg, 85, of Eugene, Oregon, died peacefully on Saturday, June 11, 2005, with Ginny and his children at his side.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, June 16, at the Central Lutheran Church, Eugene.

Ancil was born on September 26, 1920 in Mayville, North Dakota, to Oscar and Ella Teigland Berg. He and Virginia (Ginny) Mueller of Northwood were married on November 7, 1948. A graduate from the University of Minnesota in civil engineering, Ancil worked many years for the Weyerhaeuser Corp. and was manager of the laminating plant in Cottage Grove, Oregon. His college education was interrupted by several years in the Air Force as a meteorologist and he spent considerable time in Gander, Newfoundland.

Ancil enjoyed cards (especially bridge), woodworking, good books, golf and travel. His membership in the Central Lutheran Church, the Sons of Norway and as a former member of Rotary were important to him.

He is survived by his wife, Ginny; children Jim, Paul and Mary Elizabeth; daughters-in-law, Karen and Vanessa; son-in-law, Bob Ellis; seven grandchildren, Jacob and Chelsea; Amy, Carl, Tracy and Scott; and Robbie; five step-grandchildren, Jaimie, Sarah, Christy, Pamela and David; sister, Ina Smith; and very special nieces and nephews.
© Northwood Anchor 2005

Lyle D. Barker

June 22, 2005, Page 9

Lyle D. Barker, 83, of Carpenter, died on Monday, June 13, 2005, at the Stacyville Community Nursing Home, Stacyville, Iowa.

Memorial services were held on Friday, June 17, at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, with Rev. Dr. J. Samuel Subramanian of the United Methodist Church, Osage, officiating. Burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood. The Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home of St. Ansgar was in charge of the arrangements.

Lyle was born on February 6, 1922, to John and Emma (Schmeckpepper) Barker. He completed eight years of schooling and then helped his father farm. During his adult years, he worked for Deckers in Mason City, retiring after over 30 years. He also worked for Great Plains Lumber in Northwood. He moved to Carpenter in 1962.

He is survived by three sisters, Elaine Dierks of Osage, Mae Ewald of Tucson, Arizona and Phyllis Mitchell of Mason City; and several nieces and nephews.

Lyle was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; and one sister.
© Northwood Anchor 2005

Pearl Plath

June 22, 2005, Page 9

Pearl Plath, age 81, of Bolan, Iowa, passed away on Friday, June 17, 2005, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

Funeral services were held on Monday, June 20, at the First Shell Rock Lutheran Church in Northwood, with Rev. Karl Hermanson officiating. Interment took place in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City, Iowa.

Pearl was born on February 24, 1924 in Worth County, Iowa, to Harry and Laura (Fergesen) Millis. She was confirmed at the Trinity Evangelical Church in Bolan on June 13, 1937. One July 26, 1942, she was united in marriage to Cecil Plath. Pearl and Cecil enjoyed fishing, traveling, gardening, their family and many friends. She worked at Fleetguard several years and enjoyed the many friendships she made there.

She will be missed by everyone who knew her. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Cecil; sister-in-law, Ruth Millis; and several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; three brothers; and one sister.

The Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood was in charge of the arrangements.
© Northwood Anchor 2005

Robert C. Helgeland

June 29, 2005, Page 13

Robert C. Helgeland, 98, of Northwood, died at his home in Northwood, on Monday, June 20, 2005.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, June 23, at the First Lutheran Church, Northwood, with Rev. Barbara Wills officiating. Burial was in the South Shell Rock Cemetery, Northwood. Military honors were conducted by the VFW Post No 6779 Our Buddies Memorial. The Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home of Northwood was in charge of the arrangements.

Robert was born on September 28, 1906, to Andrew S. and Ingaborg (Nelson) Helgeland on the family farm west of Northwood. Bob attended country grade school and graduated from the Northwood High School in 1927. After graduation he was employed in several paving and construction jobs. He attended various trade schools studying aircraft and auto mechanics. Bob was employed as an auto mechanic at the Ford Garage in Northwood until WW II. Bob entered the U.S. Army Air Corp. where he was trained as an aircraft instrument technician, attaining the rank of Tech Sergeant. Later in the war he was stationed on Saipan, where he was responsible for maintaining and calibrating the Norden Bombsights installed in the B-29 bombers which bombed Japan. Following his honorable discharge from the service, he returned to the Ford Garage in Northwood. Bob then enrolled in watchmaker school after which he joined the L. T. Dillon Watch Making Jewelry business in Northwood. Upon L. T. Dillon's retirement, Bob continued the business in Northwood until his own retirement. Included with this business was the calibration and maintenance of the big clock on Main Street, which was brought to Northwood by L. T. Dillon. It should be noted that Bob got up to change the clock's time at precisely the specified daylight savings time of 2:00 a.m.

Bob was a lifetime member of the First Lutheran Church and served on the Church Council for six years. He was also the bell ringer until halted by physical limitations. Bob enjoyed driving country roads in Worth and adjoining counties daily, noting points and activities of interest, such as new construction, country churches and farming. He also enjoyed fixing and repairing small problems in and about his home.

He is survived by a sister, Gladys Bogue of Manly; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Helgeland of Lake Mills.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Sander and wife, Annette and Elmer; two sisters, Rossela and Viola Torgerson and husband, Alfred; and brother-in-law, Cy Bogue.
© Northwood Anchor 2005