Karna Brinkman

November 15, 2007

Karna H. Brinkman, 76, of Garner, died on Thursday, November 1, 2007.

She was born on January 3, 1931 in North Dakota, the daughter of Herman and Effie Olson Tulp. The family moved to Rowan where she graduated from high school in 1948. She attended the ISTC (UNI) and then taught school at Klemme for four years. She married Garland Brinkman in 1950. In 1961 they moved to Garner where she also taught school.

Survivors include her husband; daughters in Texas and Minnesota; six grandchildren; brother, Howard (Esther) Tulp of Goodell; nephews, Harlan and Harvey Tulp; and two nieces.
©Belmond Independent 2007

Sonia Kay Rolland

November 20, 2007

Sonia Kay Rolland, died on Saturday, November 17, 2007, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, following a 14-month battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday morning, November 21, at the Bethesda Lutheran Church in Ames, with Pastor Randy Gehring officiating. Burial followed in the Roland Cemetery.

Sonia Kay was born in Albert Lea, on August 16, 1962, to Conrad and Mary (Kraabel) Rolland. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran in Scarville and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran in Belmond. She attended schools in Inwood, Belmond, Hampton and Ames, graduating from the Ames High School in May 1981. She attended the Des Moines Area Community College for one year.

She worked at the North Grand Care Center in Ames and at Anderson Grocery in Roland. She moved to Ames in 1992 and worked at Sears for eight years and at the Fareway Store for one year until her illness prevented her from working.

She deeply loved her family, the Iowa Hawkeyes, her friends, animals, the Fareway Grocery Store and the Bethesda Lutheran Church.

Preceding her in death were an infant brother, Bruce; infant nephew, Ryan Dougherty; and grandparents, Leo and Gladys (Olson) Rolland and Pastor Maynard and Helen (Henryson) Kraabel.

She is survived by her parents of Roland; siblings, Kim Rolland of Roland, Kari (Chuck) Burgin of Indianola, Steven (Joleen) Rolland of Belmond and Kristen (Randy) Dougherty of Belmond; nieces, Jaclyn Dougherty, Chelsey Dougherty, Shelby Dougherty, Markaya Rolland and Taylor Burgin; and nephews, Jason (Holly) Burgin, Gavin Burgin, Bruce Rolland and Michael Rolland.
©Belmond Independent 2007

Vickie Dockwell

November 20, 2007

Vickie J. Dockwell, 56, of Clear Lake, died on Sunday, November 18, 2007, at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Wednesday, November 21, at the Belmond United Methodist Church, with Rev. Michael Druhl officiating. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery near Rowan.

Vickie Jean, the daughter of George and Bertha (Retleff) Dockwell, was born on June 17, 1951 at Belmond. She began her schooling at Rowan, and the family later moved to Riceville, where she participated in extracurricular activities such as band. They were members of the Riceville Congregational Church. The family moved to Belmond in 1966 where Vickie attended high school and was active in vocal music. She went to state as part of the vocal music and thespians program. She graduated in 1969.

Vickie attended the North Iowa Community College in Mason City, where she received her associate degree in business. She was employed for a time with Mesaba Airlines at the Mason City Airport. She also worked with the Cerro Gordo County Coroner's Office and James T. Joyce. She also co-owned an arctic outpost fishing camp on Victoria Island in northern Canada for a number of years.

Vickie eventually took a position with Kingland Capital and Kingland Systems in Mason City, where she was employed for many years. The company eventually became Southwest Securities based in Dallas, Texas, with offices in Mason City. Vickie's position was assistant branch vice president. She held various broker/dealer licenses. In recent years she had done some consulting work out of her home.

Vickie enjoyed the simple things in life. She was somewhat reserved, but once she got to know you, she would welcome your friendship with open arms. She strived to help when the need arose. She enjoyed Harley Davidson Motorcycles and the journeys that came with them in the camaraderie of friends. Vickie loved the outdoors and times spent fishing. She enjoyed times spent in the company of her family, and she cherished the many years of companionship, memories and life journeys shared with her long time mate, Kevin Nye. The two enjoyed many of the same interests, be it their love of the music of George Harrison, McCartney, Clapton and others of their generation, or a friendly afternoon on the golf links. Vickie very much loved her pets, and especially looked forward to times with her puppies, the couple's parakeets, and the snuggles and undying love and friendship of her long haired dachshund, Oscar.

Vickie truly faced the adversity of her cancer battles with grace and dignity, enduring many treks for treatments in her fight against the illness.

She was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents; and her mother, Bertha on January 1, 2004.

Survivors include her companion, Kevin Nye of Clear Lake; father, George (Dona) Dockwell of Belmond; brothers, Kim (Linda) Dockwell of Ventura and David (Tonya) Dockwell of Belmond; Kevin's children, Cory Nye of Clear Lake and Casey (James) Dotzler of Bondurant; and sisters-in-law, Amy Snow of Fridley, Minnesota and Karen Nye of Mason City.
©Belmond Independent 2007

Beulah Reasoner

November 27, 2007

Beulah M. Reasoner, 87, of Belmond, died on Thursday, November 22, 2007, at the Belmond Medical Center.

Funeral services were held on Monday, November 26, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond, with Associate in Ministry Carolyn Pflibsen officiating. Burial was in the Belmond Cemetery.

Beulah Maxine, the daughter of Gabriel and Anna Peterson Gabrielson, was born on January 26, 1920. She was baptized and confirmed at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church near Belmond. Beulah graduated from the Belmond High School in 1938.

Beulah worked at the telephone company in Belmond for six years before she married Edward Reasoner of Rowan, on October 18, 1941 in Omaha. She worked as a lab technician for U.S. Agri-Chemicals for eighteen years.

Beulah was a member of the Trinity Lutheran where she was very active. She was a Sunday School Teacher for six years, a member of the church choir for many years, active in prayer groups, Christian Women's Club, and chairman of the funeral serving committee for seventeen years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters, Burley, Ruth and Elizabeth; and brothers, Tolford, Elmer, Norman and Gerhard.
     
Beulah is survived by her son, John (Marilee) Reasoner of Cedar Rapids and her daughter, Ann Koss of Oklahoma City; grandchildren, Eric (Kelli) Suntken, Aaron (Maya) Suntken, Ryan (Shauna) Suntken, Joshua (Erin) Reasoner and Gabriel Reasoner; great-grandchildren, Lakan, Tanner, Riley, Megan, Grace, C.J., Hunter, Jack, Ethan, Ella and Jackson; brother, Lester Gabrielson; and sister, Ruby Boller.
©Belmond Independent 2007

Carol Richards

November 27, 2007

Carol L. Richards, 80, of Alexander, died of cancer on Saturday, November 24, 2007, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 28, at the Alexander United Methodist Church, with burial in the Alexander Cemetery.

Carol Luanna, the daughter of Leo and Lucile Drummond Kepler, was born on July 1, 1927 in Fairfield. She graduated from the Fairfield High School in 1945 and attended Parsons College in Fairfield from 1945-1947. She then attended Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) until 1949 when she received her BA degree. Carol would later do graduate work at ISU and Drake.

Carol married George Richards on July 26, 1953 at the Barhydt Chapel at Parsons College.

Carol taught at the Belmond High School from 1949 to 1955. She taught at Meservey-Thornton High School from 1963 until 1967, and then again in Belmond from 1967 until 1985. Carol supervised student teaching for ISU in Home Economics from 1969 until 1985.

Carol's life was filled with love for her family and her teaching. She enjoyed reading, growing flowers, music, embroidery, hardanger, sharing time with friends, bridge and golf. Carol played the organ for the United Methodist Church in Alexander from 1985 to the present. She liked keeping in touch with her family and friends on her computer. Two of Carol's best friends were her German shepherds, Yokim and Sasha. Carol and George traveled extensively until his death.

Carol was a member of the Belmond Century Club, Belmond Country Club, Eastern Star, Beta Sigma Phi, National Education Association, and the Iowa State Education Association.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 1989; son, Edward in 1991; and sister, Lucille Ireland.

Carol is survived by her son, David Richards of Des Moines; daughter, Joan Richards of Iowa City; sisters, Evelyn Fordyce of Mound, Minnesota and Aileen Emry of Fairfield; brother, Charles Kepler of Oklahoma City; brother-in-law, Keith Ireland of Springfield, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Kepler of Choctaw, Oklahoma and Marjorie Schoenwetter of Bethesda, Maryland.
©Belmond Independent 2007

Mabel Sturgeon

December 4, 2007

Mabel Sturgeon, 88, died on Tuesday, November 27, 2007, at the Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral services were held on Friday, November 30, at the United Church of Rowan, with Pastor Nancy Hofmeister officiating. Burial was in the Fairview Cemetery in Dows.

Mabel Rose, was born on September 25, 1919 northwest of Dows, the daughter of George and Edith (Jones) Swanson. She attended the Blaine No. 2 country school and graduated from the Rowan Consolidated High School in 1936.

Mabel married Eugene Sturgeon on January 1, 1941. They started farming that spring, 14 miles northeast of Mason City. The following year they moved to the Galt area where they farmed until 1980. Then they moved to Dows. After Gene's passing in 1993, Mabel moved to the Meadows in Clarion.

Mabel was active in the United Methodist Church in Rowan, serving many years as an officer. She also served as an officer on the district Methodist Women board in Mason City. Mabel was a member of the Rowan Review Club, Jolly Mothers, Vernon Friendly, and Liberty Clubs of Dows.

Mabel and Gene enjoyed many travels. For twenty years they traveled to Red Lake, Canada to fish. Visiting the Holy Land in January 1980 was the highlight of their travels. Taking a cruise on the Sea of Galilee, they both felt, was a wonderful experience.

Preceding Mabel in death were her husband; her parents; an infant brother; brother, Clifford Swanson; daughter, Donna Sturgeon (11) in 1953; and grandsons, Chris Sturgeon (3) in 1979 and Brian Van Gerpen (17) in 1992.

Survivors include daughters, Marilyn (Gary) Hansen of Fletcher, North Carolina, Gloria (Dennis) Johanson of Britt and Sandra (Larry) Van Gerpen of Emerado, North Dakota; son, Ron (Sandy) Sturgeon of Rowan; grandchildren, Michelle Callahan, Greg Hansen, Grant Johanson, Gail Lemmon, Janelle Magalong, Eric Sturgeon and Shannon Sturgeon; sixteen great-grandchildren; brother, Raymond (Betty) Swanson of Clarion; and sister-in-law, Mary Louise Swanson of Eagle Grove.
©Belmond Independent 2007

Helen E. Boyd

December 4, 2007

Helen E. Boyd, 95, of Thornton, died on Friday, November 30, 2007, at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 4, at the Dugger Ewing Funeral Home in Belmond, with Pastor Mike Druhl officiating. Burial was in the Amsterdam Cemetery near Goodell.

Helen Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward and Matie Borghart Watkins, was born on November 27, 1912, on a farm near Cedar Rapids. She lived on the farm and attended a one-room school through the eighth grade. Helen then attended junior high and high school in Cedar Rapids, graduating from the Grant High School in 1932. She then attended Coe College and graduated from the Cedar Rapids Business College. She worked as a secretary in law offices in Cedar Rapids and Seattle.

Helen married Merritt Boyd in Cedar Rapids on August 10, 1945. They moved to the Rowan/Alexander areas where they farmed for 30 years. The couple retired to Thornton and spent winters in Texas for 22 years.

Helen enjoyed gardening and socializing. She liked very much to go out to eat with her family and friends. Helen also treasured the time she had spent on the farm.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 2000; a sister; and a brother.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Betty (Elizabeth) Barkema and husband, Dennis of Goodell; twin sons, Jerry (Suzanne) of Macon, Georgia and Gary (Donna) of Worthington, Minnesota; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
©Belmond Independent 2007