Russell VerHelst
July 8, 2008
Russell L. VerHelst, 66, a life-long resident of the Goodell
and Klemme areas, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, July, 1,
2008, on his farm land in rural Klemme.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 5, at the
Klemme United Methodist Church, with Rev. Donna Buckman and
Rev. Donald Thompson officiating. Burial was in the Ell
Township Cemetery, Klemme.
Russell Lee, was born on September 15, 1941, on a farm
outside of Swaledale, one of five children of Mell and Josie
(Lewis) VerHelst. He graduated from the Belmond High School
in 1959. Married JoAnn Helps on June 3, 1962, at the Klemme
United Methodist Church. They lived in the Goodell and
Klemme areas.
Russell and JoAnn farmed and raised their family on farms
west of Goodell and later moved to a farm east of Klemme
where they lived for 38 years. For the past three years they
had lived in the town of Klemme.
Russell was a farmer through and through. He absolutely
loved to work the earth and raise a bountiful crop. He
received great satisfaction raising nurse cattle and the
calves that were born. Russell was a horse enthusiast and
worked with many teams during his life. His love for horses
led to an interest in restoring and building carriage and
wagon racks for them to pull, as well as a chance to work a
horse in front of an antique implement. Family and friends
recall occasions when a buggy, carriage or wagon ride turned
into an adventure if the horses thought it was necessary.
Russell's favorite breed of horses were Hackneys. He was
also fond of dogs.
In addition to farming, Russ, worked for a time at the
Goodell Grocery (later We-3) as a butcher. He also sold
Walnut Grove Feeds and worked at Eaton Corporation in
Belmond.
Russ and JoAnn enjoyed motorcycle riding and had taken
various trips with friends over the years. He loved camping
and was an avid fisherman. He looked forward to fishing
excursions to Canada and Minnesota, but many of his favorite
fishing memories were spent on family adventures teaching
his children and grandchildren.
Russ enjoyed watching horse racing, boxing and other
sporting events on T.V. In recent times he had taken a
liking to college softball. He absolutely loved supporting
his children in their extra-curricular activities and then
his grandchildren. He was a man filled with a great sense of
humor and cherished the opportunity to share a one-liner or
play a part in a joke. Russell loved western movies and was
an avid reader of Louis Lamour books. In earlier years Russ
spent many times together with friends and family at
sing-a-longs where he shared his wonderful voice. Family and
friends also reflect fondly on many trips to the Clay County
Fair and the woodworking items Russ handcrafted for them:
hope chests, Matchbox car ramps, dorm lofts, headboards and
Barbie doll houses.
Russ served on the Klemme School Board and was a member of
the Klemme Lions and the Klemme United Methodist Church.
Russ was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Virginia;
six step-brothers; and two step-sisters.
Russ is survived by his wife; son, Rod (Chris) of Des
Moines; daughter, Chris (Steve) Schmidt of Dallas Center;
sister, Gail (Larry) Langlitz of Goodell; brothers, Lester
VerHelst of West Liberty and Leland VerHelst of Otley; and
grandchildren, Kari, Jacob, Jennifer, Jackie and Ryan.
©Belmond
Independent 2008
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Mary Smith
July 15, 2008
Mary Smith, of Coronado, California, died on Wednesday, July
2, 2008.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 18, at the
Naval Chapel, North Island Naval Air Station,
Coronado. Interment will be in the Fort Rosecrans National
Cemetery, San Diego.
Mary was born on April 19, 1916 in Belmond, the daughter of
John and Bessie (Quam) Cullinan. She married Karl Smith in
1937 at her parent's home. As a 30-year Navy family, their
assignments took them to Spain and France, but they always
considered Coronado home.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 2006;
son, Kurt in 2002; four brothers; and four sisters.
She is survived by her brother, Robert Cullinan of Belmond.
©Belmond
Independent 2008
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Emily Larsen
July 15, 2008
Emily Larsen, 89, formerly of Mason City, died on Tuesday,
July 8, 2008, at the Clear Bridge Cottage in West St. Paul,
Minnesota.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 12, at the
Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel in Mason City, with
Reverend Steve Hansen of the Wesley United Methodist Church
officiating. Burial was in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason
City.
Emily Eloise, was born on December 16, 1918, on a farm in
Scott Township, Franklin County, near Alexander, the third
of seven children born to Charlie (Karl) and Helena (Jennie)
(Gartz) Barkema. She was baptized on April 24, 1930, by
Reverend O.G. Poppen in Palsville (east of Belmond). She
attended the Pleasant Township #5, rural school. She married
Wilbur Larsen on October 22, 1942 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
He preceded her in death in 1998.
Emily spent most of her life living on farms in Franklin and
Cerro Gordo counties, retiring to Mason City where she
resided until February 2002 when she moved to West St.
Paul. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister,
and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She
was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Mason
City.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son,
Charles; sister, Eva; and brothers, Edward, Lyle and Harold.
Survivors include her daughters, Shirley (John) Kraft of
Cottage Grove, Minnesota and Barbara Larsen of Waterloo;
five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and sisters,
Lois Schlichting of Cherokee and Maurine VerHelst of
Belmond.
©Belmond
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Dennis Borrill
July 15, 2008
Dennis L. Borrill, 55, died on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at
his home in Belmond.
Memorial services were held on Tuesday, July 15, at the
Clear Lake United Methodist Church, with Reverend Diana
Hoover officiating. Inurnment was in the Clear Lake
Cemetery.
Dennis Lee, was born on April 6, 1953 in Mason City, the son
of Ray E. and Clarice (Bachellor) Borrill. He graduated from
the Clear Lake High School in 1973 and continued his
education at NIACC, graduating with a law enforcement
degree. He also graduated from the police academy in Des
Moines. He was employed with the Belmond Police Department,
retiring after 28 years of service. For a time he was the
Emergency Management Coordinator for Wright County.
Dennis was an avid Minnesota Vikings and Twins fan. He loved
sports, reading, teaching emergency and disaster management,
woodworking and attending gun shows. He was a collector of
miniature police cars, ambulances, fire trucks and trains.
He attended the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents; father;
brothers, Larry and Gary Borrill; and uncles, Paul and Bruce
Bachellor.
Dennis is survived by his mother of Clear Lake; sister,
Nancy (Jeff) Germundson of Manly; special family member,
Diane (Rod) Lumn of Camdenton, Missouri; niece and nephews,
Jenny Raisch of Manly, Andrew Germundson of Sumter, South
Carolina and Jesse Germundson of Nora Springs; great-nieces
and nephew, Abbey Raisch, Casey Cole and Allison Cole;
uncles, Merlin (Carol) Bachellor of Bettendorf and Kenneth
(Mary) Borrill of Clear Lake; and aunts, Helene Bachellor of
Clear Lake and Deone Bachellor of Des Moines.
©Belmond
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Eunice Christenson
July 15, 2008
Eunice N. Christenson, 87, died of natural causes on
Saturday, July 12, 2008, at the Hampton Health Care Center.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 15, at the St.
Olaf Lutheran Church west of Belmond, with Interim Pastor
Kim Hassan officiating. Burial was in the Belmond Cemetery.
Eunice Naomi, was born on February 10, 1921, to Elling and
Nettie Ulstad Ellingston at her parents' farm home west of
Belmond, the third of seven siblings. She was baptized and
confirmed at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church. She attended the
Belmond Township #4 School and graduated from the Belmond
High School in 1939. The next four years she taught in
Belmond and Lake Township.
Eunice was married on January 29, 1942 in Maryville,
Missouri, to Lloyd Christenson of Kanawha. Lloyd enlisted in
the air force and was later deployed to California where she
joined him. During the nearly three years they spent in
California, Eunice worked at the naval shipyards as a
machinist helper, repairing ships returning from the war
zone and preparing new ships for launch. Eunice and Lloyd
returned to Iowa in 1945 with their daughter, Nancy Lynn.
Their son, Charles Lloyd (Chuck) was born a few years later.
They spent many years on the family farm. In the late 1960's
they moved to Belmond.
Eunice is remembered as a woman who was open to innovative
ideas, and a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who
treasured every moment with her grandchildren. She relished
her participation in all aspects of serving the young and
old in her church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Maxine,
Virgil and Bernice; brother, Leo; and son, Chuck.
Survivors include her husband of Belmond; daughter, Nancy
(Neil) Stadlman of Cedar Falls; daughter-in-law, Linda
(Gary) Hagen of Wells, Minnesota; grandchildren, Mike
Christenson of Valley City, North Dakota, Braden Stadlman,
Breon Stadlman and Amy Christenson, all of Minneapolis;
siblings, Raymond (Rebecca) Ellingston and Avis Hopkey, all
of Belmond; brother-in-law, Keith Bailey of Tacoma,
Washington; and sister-in-law, Opal Ellingston of Belmond.
©Belmond
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Gail Hanson
July 22, 2008
Gail M. Hanson, 100, died on Friday, June 13, 2008, at the
Christian Community Home in Hudson, Wisconsin.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday,
July 26, at the Belmond United Methodist Church, with Pastor
Michael Druhl officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond
Cemetery. There will be a gathering one hour prior to the
service at the church.
Gail Margaret was born on February 9, 1908 in Olaf, to
George and Lillian (Baxter) Thompson. She graduated in March
15, 1929 from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls.
She married Verdell Hanson in Wright County on September 14,
1930.
Gail thoroughly enjoyed gardening and cooking. Long walks
shelling on the beach in Florida was a favorite past time,
along with shopping. Most of all she loved spending time
with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; and brother and
sister-in-law, Richard (Maxine) Thompson; and dear friend,
Mary Pennewell.
Gail is survived by her son, Richard "Dick" (Diane) Hanson
of Woodbury, Minnesota; grandchildren, Mary Hanson and her
children, Paige, Blake and Isaac all of Woodbury and Richard
"DJ" (life partner, Derek) Nicoletto-Hanson and their son,
Asher of New York City; and special nephew, Dudley (Concha)
Thompson.
©Belmond
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Joshua McNutt
July 29, 2008
Joshua Ervin McNutt, 32, died on Saturday, July 12, 2008.
A gathering of family and friends will take place on
Wednesday, at 3:00 p.m., at the Braman Mortuary in Omaha. In
lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the family.
Busta, as he was known by his friends, worked as a senior
engineer at ACI Worldwide in Omaha. He was an avid gardener
and enjoyed painting, and playing his banjo. Busta graduated
from the Belmond-Klemme High School in 1994 and from Midland
Lutheran College in Fremont in 1998.
Busta's quirky style and unique philosophy will be sorely
missed by those who knew him and those who loved him.
He is survived by his wife, Arica of Omaha; parents, Michael
and Ramona McNutt of Belmond; brother, Jacob McNutt and his
family of Alexander; brother, Andrew McNutt of Nashville,
Tennessee; sister, Jasmine Lester and her family of Des
Moines; and grandparents, Ervin and Helen Meyer of Logan.
©Belmond
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Darlene Aldrich
August 5, 2008
Darlene Ruth Aldrich, 80, of Belmond and formerly of Rowan,
died on Sunday, July 27, 2008, at the Belmond Health Care
Center.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday, August 5, at the
Dugger Funeral Home in Belmond, with Pastor JoAn Skyrme
officiating. Inurnment was in the Graceland Cemetery near
Rowan.
Darlene and twin brother, Daryle were born to James Edward
and Minnie Margaret Ehler Ryan on December 11, 1927 in
Rockwell City. She attended school in Rockwell City, Dows
and Rowan.
Darlene married Roland Aldrich on June 1, 1964. They made
their home south of Rowan until Roland's death. On June 1,
1996, Darlene moved to the Belmond Community Apartments
where she made many friends. She loved helping with the
congregate meals and was always willing to do something for
someone who needed help. She moved to the Belmond Health
Care Center in December 1999.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers,
Daryle, Harold, Walter and Glen Ryan; sisters, Alice
Slatkoske, Ethel Korth and Jean Walrod; and step-son, Dennis
Aldrich.
Darlene is survived by brother, Ed (Marjorie) Ryan of
Belmond; sister, Elsie Rockow Schroeder (Wilbur) of Dows;
step-children, Holly Herren, Leilani Johnston, Janet Mesarvy,
James Aldrich and Curtis Aldrich; and sister-in-law, Verna
Ryan.
©Belmond
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Stanley Olsen
August 5, 2008
Stanley D. Olsen, 61, of Rowan, died on Tuesday, July 29,
2008, at the Mercy Medical Center in Mason City.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, August 2, at the
Belmond United Methodist Church, with Pastor Mark Pluff and
Pastor Mike Druhl officiating. Burial was in the Graceland
Cemetery near Rowan, with military rites provided by the
Rowan American Legion, Unit 159.
Stanley David, the son of Harold and Ina (Schmidt) Olsen,
was born on August 29, 1946 in Belmond. He graduated from
the Belmond High School in 1964. He attended Mankato
Business School, graduating from the three-year program in
two years. Stan was drafted into the Army in 1967. He and
Peggy White were married at the St. John's Catholic Church
in Clarion in 1970.
Stan worked as an accountant for a number of firms,
including Central Soya and Kiefer Built, before he began his
own accounting firm in 1974. He was a community-minded
individual, serving with the ambulance as well as the fire
department in Rowan. He was a member of the Rowan American
Legion and King Solomon Lodge #210 in Belmond. Stan was a
member of the Belmond-Klemme School Board for the last three
years. He was also an avid sportsman, enjoying duck hunting
and trapping. Collecting antiques and attending auctions
were hobbies Stan thoroughly enjoyed. His family and
grandchildren were his pride and joy.
Preceding Stan in death are his parents and an infant son,
David.
Stan is survived by his wife, Peg; daughter, Stephanie
(Matt) Peters of Colfax; son, Dan (Tammie) of Central Asia;
grandchildren, Ellie, Allison and Sarah Peters and Hannah
Olsen; and brothers, Dr. Steven (Pam) Olsen of Belmond and
Karl (Marilyn) Olsen of Clarion.
©Belmond
Independent 2008
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