Music was provided by Shirley Kuhlers, organist and Jerry Boelman, soloist. Ushers were Don Braner and Alvin Braner. Casket bearers were Duane Mennenga, Mike Mennenga, Lynn Mennenga, Alan Mennenga, Larry Mennenga and Darin Mennenga.

Ben, the son of Johannes and Kate (Gruis) Mennenga, was born on January 26, 1909, on his parents farm in rural Meservey. He graduated from the Belmond High School. Following high school he began his life long career in farming. He had worked for a time as a hired hand.

Ben was united in marriage to Grace Pals on March 5, 1936, at the Immanuel Reformed Church Parsonage. Following their marriage the couple farmed south of Meservey for many years. He loved to work the land and his horses. Ben retired from farming in the late 1970's and the couple moved into Belmond.

Grace preceded Ben in death on November 3, 1990. He continued to live on his own until becoming a resident of the Belmond Health Care Center.

Ben was an active member of the Immanuel Reformed Church for most of his life. He had served as a deacon, elder, and sang in the church choir and Mennenga Quartet. He will be remembered as being meticulous and hardworking.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Grace; and two brothers, Harry and Elmer.

Ruth was born on December 13, 1920 in Belmond, the daughter of Frank Kemp and Louise Heginger. She attended the Belmond Schools. She married Victor Meyer on October 4, 1941.

Preceding her in death were her parents; and one brother, Elmer.

Mildred was born on February 17, 1908 in Belmond, the daughter of Charles and Tillie Tomson Peterson. She graduated from the Hampton High School and the Iowa State Teacher's College (UNI). She married H. "Jeff" Wacker in 1946.

Mildred Faye, was born on October 4, 1920 in Alexander, the daughter of Elias and Hilma Pierson Klinefelter. She graduated from the Alexander High School in 1938 and married Donald Dorr on November 26, 1942. They made their home in Belmond.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; sister, Evenette Eden; and brother, Shorty Klinefelter.

Helen, the daughter of T. T. and Helen Frey Lieuwen, was born on September 6, 1907, in Belmond. She grew up in the Belmond area where she attended country school.

On April 8, 1930, she married Eugene Kelley in Meservey. They lived in Oxford Junction where they owned and operated a rendering business for many years.

Eugene died in 1983, and Helen continued to live in Oxford Junction until 1986, when she moved back to Belmond.

While her children were growing up, Helen was very active in school activities. She was a member of the St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Oxford Junction. Upon moving to Belmond, she attended Trinity Lutheran Church.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three sisters, Nellie Barkema, Rose Baker and Grace Barkema; and three brothers, George, Bert and Donald Lieuwen.

Alice, the daughter of Roy and Sadena Green Cline, was born on April 7, 1922, in Buffalo Center. At an early age the family moved to Goodell and she graduated from the Goodell High School.

Alice married Howard Jacobmeyer in Lohrville on June 7, 1947, and they made their home in Belmond.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Raymond Cline of Goodell; and two sisters, Florence Jante and Doris Hettel.

Memorial services were held on Wednesday, October 23, at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church near Belmond, with Pastor Lowell Halvorson officiating. Interment took place in the Amsterdam Cemetery near Goodell.

Billie, the daughter of William and Ida Frohling Harbison, was born on September 1, 1924, at Garner. She grew up in north Iowa. Billie's family lived in Pocahontas and Eagle Grove before returning to Garner. She graduated from the Garner High School in 1942.

She was united in marriage to Robert R. McNutt on December 6, 1945, in Garner and they made their home near Belmond, where Billie was a housewife and mother. She was very instrumental in helping Robert in the cob buying business. Billie worked for a time as a telephone operator and also as a clerk at Anthony's Department Store in Belmond. She moved into Belmond in 1996.

Billie enjoyed doing handwork. She was very accomplished at sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She sewed various wedding blessings and baptismal towels for the St. Olaf Lutheran Church. She also sewed monograms for local organizations and businesses. Billie enjoyed watching the western channel and was an avid walker. She is remembered as a hard worker, a wonderful friend and loving mother.

Billie was a member of the St. Olaf Lutheran Church where she participated in the women's groups.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert, Sr.; one son, Robert, Jr.; one sister; and one brother.

Louis, the youngest son of Paul and Amanda Loth, was born on December 9, 1911 in Waterbury, Nebraska. The family later moved to Zimmerman, Minnesota and eventually settled in the Clear Lake and Ventura areas, where they farmed for many years.

Louis received his education through the St. John's Lutheran Church northwest of Ventura. He was working as a hired man for "Obbie" Oberhauser when he met his love of over 65 years, Louise M. Haupt. They were united in marriage at the St. John Lutheran Church Parsonage in Waseca, Minnesota, in June 1937 and eventually moved to the Haupt homestead south of Belmond in 1941, where they farmed until their retirement in 1967.

After retirement "Louie" and Louise enjoyed traveling, playing cards, and wintering in Arizona and Florida. His greatest joy was fishing with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. In earlier years Louis was involved with the Odd Fellows Organization, Farm Bureau, and had been a principal of a country school. He will be remembered by many for his sense of humor, wit, and one-line comebacks, a wonderful trait he still had in his failing health.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Amelia (Froelich); daughter, Mary Lou Robbins-Wells; brothers, Martin and Laurence; and sister, Lillian Van Lone.

He was born on October 6, 1924, in Michigan City to the Rev. Armin and Clara (Korn) Meyer. He lived in Stockton, Illinois and in Belmond.

On June 30, 1946, he married Loretta Lemmerbrock.

Carel was born on February 12, 1927, and lived on the rural Kanawha farm owned by his parents, Clarence and Alma (Schultz) Oxley. As a young man he farmed with his father.

He served in the United States Army from October 1950 to July 1952 and was awarded the Korean Service Medal. Following his discharge he married Phyllis Vestweber of Alexander, on July 25, 1952. They later purchased the family farm and were engaged in farming there for more than forty years. They raised three daughters and two sons. Phyllis died in 2000, and Carel continued to live on the farm until moving to Mason City earlier this year.

Carel was a man of many interests and talents. Following his service in Korea, he used the GI Bill to become a licensed pilot. He was a skilled mechanic, with an interest in both cars and motorcycles that continued throughout his life. He enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, golf, boating and water skiing. He was an accomplished woodworker who enjoyed restoring antiques. He was a member of the St. John Lutheran Church in Corwith.

Carel was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a sister, Vivian Oxley Assink; and his brother, Marvin Oxley.

Doris was born on July 12, 1919 in Wilson County, Kansas.  She graduated from the Storm Lake High School.

She married Donald Olson on October 19, 1941 in Lake View. She worked in an airplane factory in Buffalo, New York during WW II and her husband was a sailor. After the war they moved back to Sac City where they raised three daughters. In 1972 they moved to West Des Moines and in 1997 moved to the Willows, Mason City.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; two sisters; and two brothers.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 2, at the First Reformed Church in Meservey, with burial in the Meservey Cemetery.

Bert Henry Pals, the son of John P. and Grace (Frey) Pals, was born on August 13, 1910, in Franklin County. He attended the Wisner Country School.

On February 26, 1935, Bert married Grace Koenen. They made their home on the family farm. He retired in 1974. In 1986 they moved to Meservey. Following a house fire in 2000 they moved to Belmond. Bert became a resident of the Belmond Health Care Center in 2001.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two infant sons, Eugene Edward and Lynn Ray; a grandson, Alan Johnson; two brothers, Peter E. Pals and Richard Pals; and two sisters, Gertrude Musgjerd and Esther Suntken.

Robert was born on December 20, 1931 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the son of Robert Hoyle and Maude Peebles. He enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17 and served for 22 years, both in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Robert married Bernice Harringa-Hamrick on December 21, 1957, at the U.S. Naval Chapel in San Diego. The couple lived in various locations while he continued his military service. They moved from Japan to Garner in 1967 and then to Klemme in 1969.

Bob had been employed at Garner Farm Supply, Great Plains Lumber of Klemme, Klemme True Value, owned Don's Place in Klemme, worked security at Eaton Corp. in Belmond and at IMT in Garner, and tended bar at the Garner VFW where he was very active.

Preceding him in death were his parents; an infant son, Marvin Peebles; sons, Donald Peebles and Donald Hamrick; sisters, Ruth and Billie; and a brother, Hubert.

Margaret Myrtle, daughter of Henry and Christine (Henricksen) Hansen, was born on November 14, 1908 in Luverne, Minnesota. She graduated from the Luverne High School and attended business school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

On October 8, 1932, Margaret married Leonard Collier in Sioux Falls and they had one son, Roger. The family moved to Belmond in 1952.

Preceding her in death were her parents; and her husband.